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Who is Terry Wright? Oregon anti-masker who refused to wear 'diaper on face' held again after meltdown at bank

Wright was arrested on outstanding warrants for resisting arrest and criminal trespass, issued after her viral meltdown at the bank
PUBLISHED MAR 19, 2021
In both instances, Terry Wright entered the building without a face mask and refused to leave when asked to do so (Galveston County Jail)
In both instances, Terry Wright entered the building without a face mask and refused to leave when asked to do so (Galveston County Jail)

TEXAS CITY, TEXAS: 65-year-old anti-masker Terry Wright was handcuffed and escorted out of corporate premises for the second time in just over a week after she refused to wear a mask. She was arrested at an Office Depot in Texas City on Thursday (March 18) morning, days after being forced out of a Bank of America branch in Galveston. In both instances, Wright entered the building without a mask and refused to leave when asked to do so. She was arrested on outstanding warrants for resisting arrest and criminal trespass, issued after her viral meltdown at the bank. 

In Texas, Governor Greg Abbott has removed the requirement to wear a mask in public spaces but allowed businesses to enforce mask-wearing rules as per their discretion, and if they want to do so. Most businesses have kept the Covid-19 restrictions and regulations in place, which hasn't gone down well with many Republicans in the state.

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Bodycam footage showing Terry Wright arguing with a police officer at a Bank of America branch. (Galveston Police Department)

Who is Terry Wright?

Terry Lynn Wright is originally from Grant Pass, Oregon. She reportedly traveled to Galveston, Texas in an RV to "cross items off her bucket list". "I won't wear that diaper on my face!" she told ABC13. Apart from being a vocal anti-masker, Wright is also a believer in the 'Plandemic' conspiracy video. Wright doesn't appear to have any social media profiles, so there's not much we know about her. 

Mail Tribune reported that she has a conviction in Oregon. In 2004, she pleaded guilty to misdemeanor charges of reckless driving and recklessly endangering another person in Multnomah County. According to the Tribune, she was sentenced to 18 days in jail, 80 hours of community service, and a 90-day suspension of her driver's license. 

On March 11, she entered the Bank of America branch without a mask. When the manager asked her to wear a mask or leave the premises, she refused to do so. The manager then called the police, who attempted to get Wright to leave the premises. "What are you going to do?” Wright asked the officer in the viral footage. “Arrest me? That’s hilarious.” The confrontation turned physical, forcing the officer to force Wright to the ground and handcuff her, leading to minor injuries. She was not arrested at the time, since she was being treated for injuries. On March 12, the police issued a warrant for Wright's arrest. 

On March 18, Wright entered the Office Depot store on Emmett F Lowery Expressway, again without a mask. When the store called the cops, she again refused to leave. She was then taken into custody without incident and taken to Galveston County Jail on a $3,000 bond. It is unclear if she made bail at this time. Reportedly, no additional charges were filed in this case. 

A protester holds up a sign protesting wearing a mask at the Texas State Capital building on April 18, 2020 in Austin, Texas. (Getty images)

Despite the instance of public health officials, many states have revoked the need to wear masks in public. Texas lifted its mask mandate on March 10, with Gov. Abbott saying, "businesses and families in Texas have the freedom to determine their own destiny." Austin and Travis County officials have issued local mask mandates in defiance of Abbott's order, leading to a legal challenge from the Texas Attorney General. 

The Daily News reported that Galveston Police Chief Vernon Hale said he would rather his officers not be called about mask issues but that they would respond to such calls as needed.

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