Peabody Man Organizes State House Rally Against State Overreach

PEABODY, MA — The Peabody man who filed a lawsuit against Gov. Charlie Baker over coronavirus-related mask mandates, business and church restrictions last summer is planning a State House rally to build support for his new nonprofit organization that says it plans to use legal action to defend families against government overreach.

Vincent Delaney told the online journal "Law Enforcement Today" that the "Stand Up For Freedom" rally is planned for noon to 3 p.m. on Friday at the State House. Organizers say it will be a "peaceful, family-friendly freedom rally" with hopes that more than 10,000 residents will skip school and work to attend.

Delaney sued Baker in spring 2020, arguing that his executive orders that shut down some businesses and enforced capacity and mask limits on other businesses and churches were unconstitutional in the commonwealth. All of his lawsuits were eventually dismissed, but he does take credit for Baker lifting the capacity restriction on churches late in the summer.

Delaney also started a petition drive against Baker's flu vaccine mandate that he said gained the support of more than 1,1,00 residents. The flu vaccine mandate was eventually rescinded in January as well, in part because of lack of compliance and in part because of lack of flu cases amid remote school and social distancing guidelines.

Delaney has since co-founded the Family Freedom Endeavor in collaboration with attorney Ryan McLane, who serves as chief attorney for the organization.

The FFE's website said its mission is to continue to advocate for families against governmental overreach in areas such as virus vaccine and mask mandates.

Recently, the FFE said it filed lawsuits on behalf of college students opposed to vaccine mandates at colleges in Massachusetts, Connecticut and other states.

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(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)