San Francisco issued its first citation for breaking the shelter-in-place order to an 86-year-old anti-abortion protester who was praying at the time.
Police in the city cited Ronald Konopaski for a misdemeanor last Thursday for protesting outside a Planned Parenthood. Konopaski had appeared outside the clinic every day since the end of February in a campaign called 40 Days for Life, which labels itself “a peaceful and educational presence.”
Police spokesman Sgt. Michael Andraychak said the department warned Konopaski last Wednesday to stop distributing leaflets on the sidewalk and return home. He was cited the next day when police found him in the same spot. The octogenarian was reportedly praying when police cited him.
“The people who are opposing my being there are just using this order as a tool to engage the police to do their dirty work to get rid of me,” Konopaski told the San Francisco Examiner.
Andraychak said Konopaski was the first and only person to be cited for breaking the shelter-in-place order in the state as of last week.
“I’m 86 years old, and I know how to take care of my health,” Konopaski said. “I’m following the order of this health thing even though I think that is a gross overkill or overreach.”
