DeWine chastises protesters harassing Acton, media members: ‘Come after me.’

COLUMBUS — After videos of protesters harassing reporters and Health Director Dr. Amy Acton at her home circulated on social media over the weekend, Gov. Mike DeWine told his critics: "Come after me."

"Reporters and photographers are doing nothing more than following that First Amendment and informing the public," said DeWine. "To treat them with disrespect and to not observe social distancing with them, to be just obnoxious, I just find that very, very sad."

On Friday, Cleveland.com that a protester — who was not wearing a mask or practicing social distance — accosted a Columbus television reporter covering the demonstration outside the Ohio Statehouse.

Additionally, photos circulated on Twitter over the weekend of demonstrators with assault weapons outside the home of Dr. Acton in Bexley, a suburb of Columbus. Protests against Acton have included anti-Semitic rhetoric and signage; Acton is Jewish.

Ohio State Rep Nino Vitale, R-85, took to Facebook Friday to call Acton a "globalist," which has long been an anti-Semitic slur.

"I set the policy. So when you dont like the policy, again, you can demonstrate against me," said DeWine. "But to bother the family of Dr. Acton, that is not fair game. I don't think it's right. I don't think it's necessary to get your point across."

This story was originally published May 4, 2020 at 2:41 PM with the headline "DeWine chastises protesters harassing Acton, media members: ‘Come after me.’."