Kelly Ernby, an Orange County deputy district attorney, has died after complications resulting from contracting COVID-19.
Tributes have poured in for Ernby, 46, who passed away this week after contracting coronavirus.
She was known for her involvement in politics and the Republican party, more specifically, and was well known for her stance against vaccine mandates.
Even before the COVID-19 pandemic was declared, Kelly Ernby had been taking a stand against vaccine mandates in California and rallied in 2019 against a state law that tried to bring in further mandates for vaccinations at school.
Just last month, on December 4, Kelly Ernby had appeared at a rally organized by conservative group Turning Point USA, where she spoke out against mandatory vaccinations.
In November 2019, she said that nothing matters more than “our freedoms” and was outspoken against government involvement and intervention when it comes to medical health.
She had previously urged other people to come together in unity and stand up for their beliefs.
A government that is for the people cannot exist without action taken by the people; Kelly Ernby had told supporters.
She compared the political division in the US to the fight against socialism during the 1960s and said the decisions on vaccinations should be a conversation between doctors and patients and not involve the state.
For the last ten years, Kelly Ernby had worked as deputy district attorney in California and had recently became Precinct Operations Chair for the Republican Party of Orange County in 2020.
She was married to Axel Mattias Ernby, who works as a self-employed consultant in Huntington Beach, where Kelly also lived. The spouse has confirmed that she was not vaccinated after some reports on social media claimed otherwise.
He reportedly wrote: “She was NOT vaccinated. That’s the problem.”
Tributes on social media from friends and colleagues have poured in over recent days since the news of Kelly Ernby’s death was announced.
Former executive director of the California Republican Party, Jon Fleischman, described her as somebody who was “very passionate” about politics, America, and the Republican party.
She also played a huge role in the recall of Governor Gavin Newsom last year. She was against his handling of the pandemic.
She claimed at the time: “I don’t like the fact that he is shutting down our churches, our schools, our businesses, and that people have rights and liberties that he is not protecting.”
Newsom went on to prevail with 60 percent of the votes. Close to 60% of Americans are vaccinated. However, there is a huge political debate between the left and the right about the need for mandates.
The country is currently dealing with the Omicron variant that is more transmissible and reportedly less deadly.
