In The Know

Twisted Sister’s Dee Snider slams ‘moronic’ anti-maskers for using their song during Target protest

Twisted Sister’s former frontman Dee Snider on Wednesday condemned anti-mask activists who used the group’s hit song “We’re Not Gonna Take It” during their recent protest inside a Florida Target.

“No…these selfish assholes do not have my permission or blessing to use my song for their moronic cause,” Snider wrote.

The rock star was reacting to viral footage showing a group of people without face masks walking through the Fort Lauderdale store this week, yelling at customers to remove their own facial coverings.

One man, wearing a “Make America Great Again” shirt from President Trump’s campaign, was seen holding a small speaker over his head and playing Twisted Sister’s 1984 classic tune.

“We’re Americans, breath!” one woman screamed. “It’s all a lie!”

“Take off that mask, you don’t need it,” another woman yelled. 

Chris Nelson, the Fort Lauderdale resident behind the group ReOpen South Florida, told The South Florida Sun Sentinel that he organized the self-proclaimed flash mob. 

“In celebration of Burn Your Mask Day we decided to spread some freedom dust over the shoppers and employees of Target!” he wrote in the description of a YouTube video from the group’s perspective 

Nelson said he would continue using Snider’s song despite his criticism.

“It’s sad,” he said. “It’s a great anthem about freedom and overcoming oppression.”

Broward County currently requires facial coverings in public spaces in an attempt to stop the spread of coronavirus, which has infected more than 663,234 Floridians, according to the state health department.

Margaret Stapleton, Broward County spokesperson, told the outlet that three people identified through the video were mailed $100 citations for failing to wear masks.

“Any additional participants from the video that are able to be identified will also receive $100 citations in the mail,” she said.

Interim Assistant Police Chief Frank Sousa told the outlet that the protesters had entered the store with their masks on and had left by the time officers responded to their protest. 

Target was also hit with a fine for not enforcing the mask policy.

Danielle Schumann, a Target corporate spokeswoman, told the Sun Sentinel that masks are required inside stores and said “our priority remains the health and safety of our team and guests.”

She said the protesters were asked to leave “after they removed their masks and became disruptive and rude to other shoppers.”

Tags Broward County Coronavirus Dee Snider Donald Trump Florida Fort Lauderdale Mask Target Twisted Sister We're Not Gonna Take It

Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

See all Hill.TV See all Video

Most Popular

Load more

Video

See all Video