rally in support of Dr. Jeff Horak (photo courtesy of William Anderson)
FERGUS FALLS, Minn. (KFGO) – An estimated 500 people gathered outside of Lake Region Healthcare in Fergus Falls on Monday in support of a surgeon who lost his job after comments he made at a recent school board meeting.
Dr. Jeff Horak worked Lake Region Medical Group and practiced at Lake Region Healthcare for 16 years. Earlier this month at a school board meeting where a temporary face mask requirement was discussed, he spoke in favor of parents’ rights to choose whether their children should wear masks in school. Horak has said that neither he nor the medical group is able to cite specific reasons for his leaving.
Horak told the crowd he’s received many positive messages from residents, “You spoke up about God and our rights, so we could live our lives with faith knowing God will take care of us instead of living in fear, the fear that has been pushed these so many months.”
Dr. Scott Jenson, who is running for Governor, also spoke at the rally, “To the people who told Jeff Horak that he doesn’t get to articulate his science based opinion, and when he does, these people want to silence his voice. What’s pretty obvious is that his voice is not going to be silenced,” he said.
Lake Region Healthcare’s CEO has said that Horak was not employed by Lake Region Healthcare, but was contracted by Lake Region Medical Group, which ultimately made the decision to discontinue his employment.
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