Whereas: Article 1, Section 1 of the Virginia Constitution states that "all men are by nature equally free and independent and have certain inherent rights, of which, when they enter into a state of society, they cannot, by any compact, deprive or divest their posterity; namely, the enjoyment of life and liberty, with the means of acquiring and possessing property, and pursuing and obtaining happiness and safety;" and
Whereas: Article 1, Section 12 of the Virginia Constitution states that "the General Assembly shall not pass any law abridging the freedom of speech or of the press, nor the right of the people peaceably to assemble;" and
Whereas: Article 1, Section 16 of the Virginia Constitution states that "religion or the duty which we owe to our Creator, and the manner of discharging it, can be directed only by reason and conviction, not by force or violence; and, therefore, all men are equally entitled to the free exercise of religion, according to the dictates of conscience; and that it is the mutual duty of all to practice Christian forbearance, love, and charity towards each other;" and
Whereas: Article 5, Section 7 states that "the Governor shall take care that the laws be faithfully executed."
Therefore, we the people of the Commonwealth of Virginia demand that Governor Northam immediately rescind his "stay in place" order so that we may take personal responsibility for our own personal safety and decide for ourselves whether or not to work, shop, gather, and in general be free to exercise our pre-existing and constitutionally protected right to do so.