Old North News

North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper has told organizers of the Republican National Convention, currently scheduled to start on Aug. 24 at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, that face coverings and social distancing efforts are required due ongoing COVID-19 concerns. 

That response goes against requests from President Donald Trump and other Republican leaders asking for an attendance of 19,000 without social distancing and mask requirements.

Cooper's plea for distancing and face masks comes just days after he was filmed walking through a protest area on June 1, with a mask looped against his ears but not covering his face while surrounded by others not adhering to social the six-foot social distancing recommendation.

Holden Kurwicki, a weekend anchor and reporter at WNCN, posted a video on Twitter of Cooper in the crowd.  Kurkwcki wrote: “As the crowd looked like they were breaking up, @NC_Governor marched through. The crowd is now chanting 'march with us.' @WNCN.”

Cooper did leave the door open for a smaller convention event, but Republican officials responded by scouting other cities that might host the convention, according to a June 2 Charlotte Observer article.

“As much as we want the conditions surrounding COVID-19 to be favorable enough for you to hold the convention you describe in late August, it is very unlikely,” Cooper wrote RNC officials in a letter obtained by the Observer. “Neither public health officials nor I will risk the health and safety of North Carolinians by providing the guarantees you seek.”

After the letter went public, the Republican National Committee chair said that the group would visit multiple cities and states that have reached out about hosting “an historic event to show that America is open for business.” 

Those sites currently include Nashville, Las Vegas and Orlando, according to Politico.

Cooper told the Observer that if the GOP scales down the event, chances are higher that Charlotte will agree to host the event.

“The likelihood of it being in Charlotte depends on the Republican National Committee’s willingness to discuss with us a scaled-down convention,” he said.