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'Wild pack of Karens' stage anti-mask rally after denied entry by California supermarket: 'This is war crime!'

The group gathered outside Mother's Market & Kitchen in Costa Mesa with signs and placards in their hands after the store closed their doors to not let people without masks inside the facility

COSTA MESA, CALIFORNIA: A number of maskless women staging an anti-mask rally outside a California supermarket were dubbed "a wild pack of Karens" after a video of the event was shared on social media on Saturday, August 15. 

The group gathered outside Mother's Market & Kitchen in Costa Mesa, California, with signs and placards in their hands after the managers of the store closed their doors to not let people without masks inside the facility. Several people started filming the moment, as they became enraged at the store owners for not letting them in to shop without face masks, which have been mandatory in a number of places in the US amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Many restaurants, shopping malls, and other facilities have since exercised their rights to deny customers service if they are without masks. 

The video in question showed one woman filming another woman, standing at the entrance of the store, which had denied her access without a mask. "I don't know what country I'm in. I thought I was in the United States! I can't go to a store... I got cash, I have credit, I wanna buy some water... Why can't I buy some water?" she said as others yelled in support around her. Another woman added that the incident was "worse than communism."

The narrator, who was recording the clip, then explained the situation in front of Mother's Market & Kitchen as she stepped back to get the name of the store on tape before moving closer to the entrance of the store, which was locked from inside. "They [managers] have locked their doors," she said. "They are keeping customers hostage inside their store. People are being denied access to food!" At the same time, another demonstrator in the area chimed in, saying, "and water!"

Here is the video:

Meanwhile, several of the anti-mask campaigners were seen in the background waving American flags, while some others held up signs including one that said "child abuse."

"The citizens of United States are being denied access to food. This is a war crime! This is crimes against humanity happening right now at Mother's Market & Kitchen in Costa Mesa!" the narrator continued before cops were seen arriving at the scene. Apparently, the store manager called the police after the demonstrators refused to leave the storefront. According to The Orange County Register, two women were subsequently arrested on suspicion of trespassing.  

At the end of last month, we reported that an Arizona PR executive Melissa Rein Lively was branded a 'Karen' after she took to Instagram on July 4 to share a video of herself throwing masks on the ground and screeching at two Target employees in Scottsdale, Arizona. While she raved and ranted, she also boasted about her $40,000 Rolex watch. However, later, Lively said she was remorseful about her behavior and claims that she had been going through a mental breakdown "due to stress related to the pandemic." She issued a statement to Daily Mail where she said, "I want to deeply apologize for my words and actions that took place earlier this month."