Will Solomon reports in the Times Union about a radical, anti-vaccine group holding a rally Sept. 10 in Columbia County, as vaccines save people from COVID-19, monkeypox, polio, and other diseases around the world. The "Festival in a Field" at Claverack's Cowberry Crossing Farm is being promoted by "Do We Need This?," a Columbia County-based group that spread vaccine misinformation during the pandemic. The group also had a booth at the Columbia County Fair this year, promoting misinformation about vaccines. “Opposing vaccination and other public health measures to counter COVID-19 and spreading disinformation put the health of our entire Columbia County community at risk, particularly the elderly and other people with health conditions,” said Patrick Connors, a Hillsdale resident who works on Vaxx Facts, a semi-regular newsletter that reports on COVID disinformation activity in Columbia County. “(DWNT) are in effect advocating for their own freedom to catch and transmit COVID and other dangerous diseases to vulnerable community members.” Richard Harrison, owner of Cowberry Crossing Farm, claims that “the Columbia County health freedom movement does not have a right-wing connection at all.” Connors says that is also misinformation. “On the national level there’s been a growing overlap between the anti-vax movement and the far-right, and we’re seeing the same here in Columbia County,” he said. “Anti-vaxxers, some of whom support causes like organic farming and the environment, are making common cause with the far-right, and vice versa.” One of the speakers at the Claverack event is Bobbie Anne Cox, who has falsely claimed about the Jan. 6, 2021 attempted coup that, “There is evidence coming to light that radical groups like Antifa, BLM, and other agitators were probably there, and may have planned it as a distraction so that Congress could certify a fraudulent election while everyone focused on the media hysteria.” That is not true, right-wing groups backing former President Donald Trump organized and participated in the attempted coup trying to overturn fair election results. “It is sad that people at the (festival) will be spreading and supporting lies about vaccines and spreading conspiracy theories,” said Michael Seserman, a Columbia County-based public health professional. “Reducing rates of vaccination increases the likelihood that we will see more outbreaks of preventable illness like measles and possibly polio.” Read more about this story in the Times Union.