Veronica Wolski: QAnon backer who demanded Ivermectin treatment dies of Covid
Another prominent anti-vaxxer has died after contracting Covid-19 on September 13. According to AMITA Health Resurrection Medical Center in Chicago, Veronica Wolski, a 64-year-old woman died due to pneumonia from Covid-19. Her death has become a major flashpoint after Wolski, a well-known anti-vaxxer, reportedly demanded Ivermectin once she was hospitalized, but she was refused. Controversial pro-Trump attorney Lin Wood called her death "medical murder" as a result.
With the Delta variant surging all over the US, the number of deaths has skyrocketed, with most people who died being unvaccinated. We recently reported on the death of 30-year-old Texan anti-masker Caleb Wallace, Florida TikToker Alexandra Blankenbiller, and Manhattan court officer Lt Stephen Shyti. These are just some of the tens of thousands of people to have died in the last few months alone. Despite the rising death rates, many are still refusing to get vaxxed or wear a mask. While others are battling for unapproved treatments like Ivermectin over the fully-approved vaccine.
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The latest to die due to opposition is Wolski, who was hospitalized two weeks prior to her death. Her case has become so well known, the hospital has reportedly faced an "organized campaign of harassment," after they refused to give her Ivermectin. The campaign against the hospital indicates just how well-known Wolski was amongst her fellow anti-vaxxers, so much so she even drew the attention of Lin Wood and Michael Flynn.
Who was Veronica Wolski?
The 64-year-old was known to be a prominent anti-vaxxer and QAnon conspiracy theorist according to reports. Wolski first became a public figure in 2019, after becoming the face behind the 'Q bridge' in Chicago over the Kennedy expressway. For four years, Wolski visited the bridge to put up various messages spreading QAnon, and more recently anti-vax propaganda. "I stand here to spread the word," she once said in an interview on the bridge.
A resident of Jefferson Park, in Northwest Chicago, Wolski has been repeatedly pushing QAnon conspiracy theories via her YouTube channel, where she has over 1.55k subscribers. She also drummed up over 1,000 followers on her Instagram page, named The People's Bridge. Since 2016, she's been at the bridge nearly daily with a message. In January 2018, Illinois State Police handed her a written warning after a complaint was called in. It didn't deter Waolski though, who responded, "If they put me in jail, the minute I get out, I will go right back up on the bridge."
Wolski recently put up an "ax the vax" sign on the bridge, and even once proclaimed she "never once worn a mask". Beyond her vocal support of Q, little is known about Wolski. Almost all mentions of her on social media and in the press revolve around her QAnon promotion and anti-vax battles. A Chicago Tribune report mentioned she was initially a Bernie Sanders supporter, and even called Trump a "goof" at one point, before switching loyalties.
Wolski sparks backlash against hospital
In late August, Wolski was hospitalized after contracting the virus and turned her into a pet cause for the QAnon movement. Reportedly she demanded that the hospital treat her with Ivermectin, but they refused. That led to a flood of angry calls and harassment against the hospital, organized via her Telegram channel. Others attempted to walk into the hospital as well, and protests were organized in front of the hospital with slogans like "crimes against humanity" and "ivermectin now" in early September.
By the end of August, Michael Flynn and Lin Wood got involved as well. Wood reportedly urged his followers to harass hospital staff via Telegram, and have Wolski released. He called Wolski's situation "medical tyranny" and shared the contact details of the hospital. That led to a flood of calls, with some asking her to be released, and others demanding she be treated with Ivermectin. But the hospital firmly refused. Days prior to her death, Wood said on Telegram, "If you do not release her, you’re going to be guilty of murder."
On September 13, Wolksi was confirmed to have died while at AMITA's ICU unit. Flynn then shared a message on Telegram, saying, "Your sacrifice will not be in vain." Wood too shared a condolence message, and said, "it is our responsibility to ensure that these medical murders stop now and perpetrators can be bought to justice." He also called for non-violence civil disobedience, ironically saying "as my brother in Christ Jarrin Jackson says, "now go to war"."
It's not clear if Wolski accepted any other forms of treatment prior to her death. The Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office ruled it as a natural death due to pneumonia resulting from Covid. Her family could not be reached for comment, but thousands of Q followers took to Telegram, Twitter, and Facebook to share condolence messages.