A health official had to leave a Covid meeting when anti-lockdown protesters terrified her son by surrounding her home.
The meeting in Idaho was cancelled after just 15 minutes when some protesters showed up at the homes of Central District health board members and others forced their way into the venue.
"My 12-year-old son is home by himself right now and there are protesters banging outside the door," said board member Diana Lachionado, according to KTVB.
"I'm gonna go home and make sure he's okay.”
The protests were reportedly organised by People’s Rights, a group set up by anti-government activist Ammon Bundy, who is a critic of virus mask mandates.
Idaho has seen more than 113,000 Covid cases and more than 1,000 deaths.
“Armed protesters once again assembled outside my home: yelling, banging, firing air horns, amplifying sound clips from Scarface, accusing me of tyranny and cowering inside,” Ms Lachianado later wrote on Twitter.
“There is an ugliness and cruelty in our national rhetoric that is reaching a fevered pitch here at home, and that should worry us all. And, above all, I am terrified about the virus’s current trajectory."
The meeting was cancelled out of safety fears at the request of Boise’s mayor Lauren McLean.
"Earlier today, in consultation with Boise Police Chief Lee and I asked Central District Health to adjourn their meeting in the interest of public safety. The temperature had risen to a point that wasn’t safe,” said Ms McLean.
Boise Police Department said it requested the cancellation after protesters forced their way into the public health department building.
Officials say that Yvonne St Cyr, 53, from Boise, was the only person arrested on misdemeanor charges after refusing to leave.
Police bosses say they will seek arrest warrants on disturbing the peace charges for people who showed up at the homes of three of the board members.
“We appreciate the public's interest and investment in this process, but the safety of CDH staff, our board members and our law enforcement partners is of the utmost importance,” said CDH director Russell Duke.
“Our community is being severely impacted by this virus and our team members and board are working tirelessly to protect our community's health.”
