By Katie Camero | The Charlotte Observer
Dr. Christopher Rake is seen in a video appearing to record himself as another man escorts him out of the UCLA Medical Plaza in Westwood.
“This is what happens when you stand up for freedom and when you show up to work, willing to work, despite being unvaccinated, and this is the price you have to pay sometimes,” Rake is heard saying in the video posted by The Beverly Hills Courier staff writer Samuel Braslow.
“But what they don’t realize is that I’m willing to go lose everything — job, paycheck, freedom, even my life for this cause.”
Rake concludes his video with a message for viewers: “Be well. United we stand, divided we fall.”
UCLA anesthesiologist Dr. Chris Rake, a COVID-19 vaccine mandate opponent, was escorted out of the UCLA medical plaza yesterday and placed on unpaid administrative leave for refusing to get vaccinated or request an exemption.
“I’m willing to go lose everything…even my life.” pic.twitter.com/7AxUX4uyeF
— Samuel Braslow (@SamBraslow) October 6, 2021
UCLA Health, which includes several hospitals in the Los Angeles region, requires all active employees working in-person to be vaccinated against COVID-19 or receive an exemption in accordance with University of California policy and a state public health order issued on Aug. 5.
The order states all health care workers in California are required to have received their second shot of the two-dose Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, or the one-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine, by Sept. 30.
“Those out of compliance are subject to progressive discipline, including restricting access to work sites and being placed on leave,” a UCLA spokesperson said in a statement to McClatchy News.
All UCLA Health employees are also required to show records of vaccination or “laboratory evidence of immunity” for measles, mumps, rubella, varicella, hepatitis B, and Tdap.
As of Oct. 7, Rake’s profile remains active on the health system’s website.
On Aug. 29, Rake attended a rally in Santa Monica, according to the Los Angeles Times, and told an excited crowd that
“they want to force a vaccination or medication or treatment into my body that I don’t want. So they’re telling me, ‘Take the jab or we take your job.’ And I’m here to say ‘no. That’s not OK.’”
Jason Lefkowitz ended his speech with some jokes.
“Can I tell one joke since I am a comedian and I’m supposed to be funny?” pic.twitter.com/7VjNRduweM
— Andrew Kimmel (@andrewkimmel) August 29, 2021
