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Handgun strapped to his hip, Bob Culver denied that the 15 or so people railing against closures and stay-at-home orders Monday on Town Square were protesting.

I didnt organize a protest, or a demonstration, said Culver, a member of the Jackson Hole Tea Party. I just wanted people to come out and feel free to talk.

President Trump made headlines last week when he tweeted in support of protesters calling for an end to COVID-19 closures in the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic. On Sunday, images taken by Denver photographer Alyson McClaran went viral, showing two people in scrubs and face masks blocking a procession of protesting drivers.

More quietly, Culver sent out his usual Jackson Hole Tea Party email blast Friday, calling for people to gather for a lunch Monday on the square. He also said county officials had dismissed several peoples entreaties to abandon the countys stay-at-home orders. Those gathered Monday decried the orders as unconstitutional and fixed their signatures to a letter written by Maury Jones, threatening legal action if the orders werent rescinded.

County officials should immediately rescind the order or revise the order to a lawful request rather than a mandatory edict, Jones wrote. Failure to do so may result in criminal charges being filed against you.

Maury Jones reads aloud his petition to local elected officials during a gathering for lunch and discussion about re-opening Teton Countys economy Monday afternoon on the Town Square. The gathering concluded with those in attendance signing Jones petition threatening legal action against local elected officials unless they rescind or revise the countys health orders, which petitioners argue are in violations of both the United States and Wyoming constitutions.

People wave at passersby Monday afternoon as they gathered for lunch and discussion about re-opening Teton Countys economy on the Town Square. The gathering concluded with those in attendance signing a petition threatening legal action against local elected officials unless they rescind or revise the countys health orders, which petitioners argue are in violation of both the U.S. and Wyoming constitutions. See related story on page 3.

Carolina Wahlman, 8, brought a sign calling for schools to open back up as people gathered for lunch and discussion about re-opening Teton Countys economy Monday afternoon on the Town Square. The gathering concluded with those in attendance signing a petition threatening legal action against local elected officials unless they rescind or revise the countys health orders, which petitioners argue are in violations of both the United States and Wyoming constitutions.

Maury Jones reads aloud his petition to local elected officials during a gathering for lunch and discussion about re-opening Teton Countys economy Monday afternoon on the Town Square. The gathering concluded with those in attendance signing Jones petition threatening legal action against local elected officials unless they rescind or revise the countys health orders, which petitioners argue are in violations of both the United States and Wyoming constitutions.

Gloria Courser and Rebecca Bextel chat Monday afternoon as people gathered for lunch and discussion about re-opening Teton Countys economy on the Town Square. The gathering concluded with those in attendance signing a petition threatening legal action against local elected officials unless they rescind or revise the countys health orders, which petitioners argue are in violations of both the United States and Wyoming constitutions.

Police patrol the Town Square Monday afternoon as people gathered for lunch and discussion about re-opening Teton Countys economy. The gathering concluded with those in attendance signing a petition threatening legal action against local elected officials unless they rescind or revise the countys health orders, which petitioners argue are in violations of both the United States and Wyoming constitutions.

People share hand sanitizer Monday afternoon during a demonstration on the Town Square. The gathering concluded with those in attendance signing a petition threatening legal action against local elected officials unless they rescind or revise the countys health orders, which petitioners argue are in violations of both the United States and Wyoming constitutions.

Valerie Music joins people gathered for lunch and discussion about re-opening Teton Countys economy Monday afternoon on the Town Square. The gathering concluded with those in attendance signing a petition threatening legal action against local elected officials unless they rescind or revise the countys health orders, which petitioners argue are in violation of both the U.S. and Wyoming constitutions.

Bob Culver packs away an extra ball cap following a gathering about re-opening Teton Countys economy Monday afternoon on the Town Square. The protest of widespread closures concluded with those in attendance signing a petition threatening legal action against local elected officials unless they rescind or revise the countys health orders, which petitioners argue are in violations of both the United States and Wyoming constitutions.

Maury Jones reads aloud his petition to local elected officials during a gathering for lunch and discussion about re-opening Teton Countys economy Monday afternoon on the Town Square. The gathering concluded with those in attendance signing Jones petition threatening legal action against local elected officials unless they rescind or revise the countys health orders, which petitioners argue are in violations of both the United States and Wyoming constitutions.

People wave at passersby Monday afternoon as they gathered for lunch and discussion about re-opening Teton Countys economy on the Town Square. The gathering concluded with those in attendance signing a petition threatening legal action against local elected officials unless they rescind or revise the countys health orders, which petitioners argue are in violation of both the U.S. and Wyoming constitutions. See related story on page 3.

Carolina Wahlman, 8, brought a sign calling for schools to open back up as people gathered for lunch and discussion about re-opening Teton Countys economy Monday afternoon on the Town Square. The gathering concluded with those in attendance signing a petition threatening legal action against local elected officials unless they rescind or revise the countys health orders, which petitioners argue are in violations of both the United States and Wyoming constitutions.

Maury Jones reads aloud his petition to local elected officials during a gathering for lunch and discussion about re-opening Teton Countys economy Monday afternoon on the Town Square. The gathering concluded with those in attendance signing Jones petition threatening legal action against local elected officials unless they rescind or revise the countys health orders, which petitioners argue are in violations of both the United States and Wyoming constitutions.

Gloria Courser and Rebecca Bextel chat Monday afternoon as people gathered for lunch and discussion about re-opening Teton Countys economy on the Town Square. The gathering concluded with those in attendance signing a petition threatening legal action against local elected officials unless they rescind or revise the countys health orders, which petitioners argue are in violations of both the United States and Wyoming constitutions.

Police patrol the Town Square Monday afternoon as people gathered for lunch and discussion about re-opening Teton Countys economy. The gathering concluded with those in attendance signing a petition threatening legal action against local elected officials unless they rescind or revise the countys health orders, which petitioners argue are in violations of both the United States and Wyoming constitutions.

People share hand sanitizer Monday afternoon during a demonstration on the Town Square. The gathering concluded with those in attendance signing a petition threatening legal action against local elected officials unless they rescind or revise the countys health orders, which petitioners argue are in violations of both the United States and Wyoming constitutions.

Valerie Music joins people gathered for lunch and discussion about re-opening Teton Countys economy Monday afternoon on the Town Square. The gathering concluded with those in attendance signing a petition threatening legal action against local elected officials unless they rescind or revise the countys health orders, which petitioners argue are in violation of both the U.S. and Wyoming constitutions.

Bob Culver packs away an extra ball cap following a gathering about re-opening Teton Countys economy Monday afternoon on the Town Square. The protest of widespread closures concluded with those in attendance signing a petition threatening legal action against local elected officials unless they rescind or revise the countys health orders, which petitioners argue are in violations of both the United States and Wyoming constitutions.

The timing of the gathering, noon, was the same as that of the Choice to Work protest, which took place on the steps of the Capitol building in Cheyenne. There, Gov. Mark Gordon stepped out of the Capitol flanked by mask-clad guards to address protesters.

Public officials made no such gesture locally. Instead, the Jackson groups gathering a much quieter affair than Cheyennes proceeded more or less uninhibited aside from one person driving by in a truck who stuck his head out the window and yelled Stupid, stupid, stupid at the gathering, which wasted no time replying.

Come on over, they yelled back.

Members of the crowd stood close together, some with children in tow. Face coverings were scant, and people from different households gathered closely, which made maintaining 6 feet of social distance difficult.

Jackson Mayor Pete Muldoon said the gathering appears to be a violation of a public health order designed to protect our community.

Its disappointing, he wrote in a text. Freedom requires responsibility; you cant have one without the other, and I would ask those who value their freedoms to exercise the responsibilities that come with them.

But some didnt believe what they were doing flew in the face of Teton Countys health orders and recommendations.

This is no different than what you see on Snow King, when people are skiing and hanging out in the parking lot, or what you see on the bike path, Gloria Courser said. But this is going to be looked at differently because were actually saying something.

A police car drove by Town Square, stopping to idle for about 15 minutes, but ultimately turned and drove away. Jackson Police Lt. Roger Schultz said he couldnt speak to that patrol cars actions. He did, however, say the Jackson Police Department is choosing not to take any action against gatherings like that.

It comes down to that balancing act, Schultz said, weighing a constitutional right with a public health order.

Right now, were drawing the line with allowing people to assemble and petition and protest our government, he added. Thats not a fight were going to fight at this time.

The countys Director of Health Jodie Pond said the orders are not the thing to protest.

Protesting and gathering thats peoples first amendment right, but I would hope they did it in a way that didnt endanger themselves or others, Pond said. If youd like to protest, Id protest the fact that we havent received the testing material weve requested.

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Jackson Hole Tea Party gathers on Town Square to condemn closures, orders - Jackson Hole News&Guide