2020–2021 United States anti-lockdown protests
   HOME

TheInfoList



OR:

Beginning in early April 2020, there were protests in several U.S. states against government-imposed lockdowns in response to the
COVID-19 pandemic in the United States The COVID-19 pandemic in the United States is a part of the COVID-19 pandemic, worldwide pandemic of COVID-19, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by SARS-CoV-2, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). In the Uni ...
. The protests, mostly organized by conservative groups and individuals, decried the economic and
social impact Social impact may refer to: * Social impact assessment * Social impact theory * Social influence Social influence comprises the ways in which individuals adjust their behavior to meet the demands of a social environment. It takes many forms and c ...
of
stay-at-home orders A stay-at-home order, safer-at-home order, movement control order (more common in Southeast Asia), or lockdown restrictions (in the United Kingdom) – also referred to by loose use of the terms (self-) quarantine, (self-) isolation, or lockdow ...
, business closures, and restricted personal movement and association, and demanded that their respective states be "re-opened" for normal business and personal activity. The protests made international news and were widely condemned as unsafe and ill-advised, although some political figures expressed support for the protests. They ranged in size from a few hundred people to a few thousand, and spread on social media with encouragement from former U.S. President Donald Trump. By May 1, 2020, there had been demonstrations in more than half of the states; many governors began to take steps to lift the restrictions as daily new infections began decreasing due to social distancing measures.


Background

The Anti-lockdown protests were first spawned with a nationwide call in mid-March by an online Facebook page by the name of "American Revolution 2.0" and a meme that went viral. The page quickly grew to 100,000+ users in less than a week and then was removed from Facebook for violations of terms of service. The group then setup 53 Facebook groups named "AR2" to run protests at the capitol of every state (plus Los Angeles and Chicago). This page and the many groups were led by Naperville, IL native Josh Ellis. On April 30, 2020, at 11pm CST all 53 groups were deleted simultaneously from Facebook for violating terms and conditions. Due to the widespread notoriety and media coverage of the May 1 planned protest many other groups started smaller protests prior to the date. One of the first protests to take place was in Michigan on April 15, 2020. It was organized via a Facebook group called "Operation Gridlock", which was created by the Michigan Conservative Coalition. A spokesman for the Michigan Conservative Coalition encouraged groups in other states to copy the Operation Gridlock wording and templates. Protesters in numerous other states said they were inspired by Michigan, and they used Michigan's material on their own websites, Facebook groups, and Reddit pages to promote their protests. Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer falsely claimed that the Michigan Freedom Fund was a party to this event and that it is funded in part by the DeVos family, but a spokesman said the family had nothing to do with the protests. The
Trump campaign There have been four presidential campaigns waged by Donald Trump for President of the United States. He has additionally mused about running on several other occasions. Donald Trump presidential campaign may refer to: * Donald Trump 2000 presid ...
declined to answer whether it was directly involved with organizing the protest in Michigan, but key protest organizers who did identify themselves were Meshawn Maddock, the wife of Republican
state representative A state legislature is a legislative branch or body of a political subdivision in a federal system. Two federations literally use the term "state legislature": * The legislative branches of each of the fifty state governments of the United Sta ...
Matt Maddock and a member of the national advisory board for
Women for Trump Women for Trump is a political group in the United States who have supported the presidency of former U.S. president Donald Trump. History 2016 Women for Trump was co-founded by Amy Kremer and Kathryn Serkes in June 2016. Kremer was one of ...
, and Marian Sheridan, who serves as a vice chair on the Michigan Republican Party, both founding members of Michigan Conservative Coalition. The protest in Washington State was organized by a county
Republican Party Republican Party is a name used by many political parties around the world, though the term most commonly refers to the United States' Republican Party. Republican Party may also refer to: Africa *Republican Party (Liberia) * Republican Part ...
, and speakers included three Republican state legislators. FreedomWorks, a conservative advocacy group associated with the Tea Party movement, published a "#ReOpenAmerica Planning Guide". Protesters opposed the shelter-in-place orders in their states for various reasons. Many said they want businesses reopened so they can go back to work. Many others displayed pro-Trump banners, signs, and MAGA hats. Still others insisted the lockdowns were a violation of their constitutional rights. One militia leader told a reporter, "Re-open my state or we will re-open it ourselves." The anger driving the protests was called "both real and manufactured", with conservative groups engaging in
astroturfing Astroturfing is the practice of masking the sponsors of a message or organization (e.g., political, advertising, religious or public relations) to make it appear as though it originates from and is supported by grassroots participants. It is a p ...
via centralized organization backed by anonymous donors. The reopen protests have generally been small, with protester numbers ranging from a few dozen to the low hundreds; the first protest in Michigan drew twenty thousand protestors, as estimated by the state police. Protesters included mainstream Republicans, but also far-right groups including
Proud Boys The Proud Boys is an American far-right, neo-fascist, and exclusively male organization that promotes and engages in political violence in the United States.Far-right: * * Fascist: * * * * * Men only: * * * Political violence: * * * It has ...
and armed militia movement supporters. A large number of "
anti-vax Vaccine hesitancy is a delay in acceptance, or refusal, of vaccines despite the availability of vaccine services and supporting evidence. The term covers refusals to vaccinate, delaying vaccines, accepting vaccines but remaining uncertain abou ...
" advocates have attended, and some have been the organizers of local protests. Ben, Chris and Aaron Dorr, three guns-rights activist brothers, are the organizers of protests in several midwestern states. Historians have noted that the protests are similar to those who grew tired of restrictions from the
1918 pandemic The 1918–1920 influenza pandemic, commonly known by the misnomer Spanish flu or as the Great Influenza epidemic, was an exceptionally deadly global influenza pandemic caused by the H1N1 influenza A virus. The earliest documented case was ...
. After the
murder Murder is the unlawful killing of another human without justification (jurisprudence), justification or valid excuse (legal), excuse, especially the unlawful killing of another human with malice aforethought. ("The killing of another person wit ...
of
George Floyd George Perry Floyd Jr. (October 14, 1973 – May 25, 2020) was an African-American man who was murdered by a police officer in Minneapolis, Minnesota, during an arrest made after a store clerk suspected Floyd may have used a counterfeit twe ...
on May 25, many of the Facebook groups created to organize protests over COVID-19 expanded their focus to attack the protests organized by Black Lives Matter


By state


Midwest


Illinois

On May 1, thousands of anti-lockdown protesters displaying the Confederate Flag, a sign written in German that read " work will set you free", Nazi symbols and signs with slogans like "Give me liberty or give me COVID-19" gathered for a "Re-open Illinois" rally in
Springfield Springfield may refer to: * Springfield (toponym), the place name in general Places and locations Australia * Springfield, New South Wales (Central Coast) * Springfield, New South Wales (Snowy Monaro Regional Council) * Springfield, Queenslan ...
organized by "American Revolution 2.0." Protesters and counter-protesters met in Chicago and
Springfield Springfield may refer to: * Springfield (toponym), the place name in general Places and locations Australia * Springfield, New South Wales (Central Coast) * Springfield, New South Wales (Snowy Monaro Regional Council) * Springfield, Queenslan ...
where two arrests were made for disorderly conduct.


Indiana

Approximately 250 people gathered in front of the Governor's Mansion in
Indianapolis Indianapolis (), colloquially known as Indy, is the state capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Indiana and the seat of Marion County. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the consolidated population of Indianapolis and Marion ...
on April 18, 2020, to protest Governor Eric Holcomb's stay at home order. The protesters did not follow social distancing guidelines, although some wore face masks. The protesters called for the governor to appear and explain himself, and said they were willing to be arrested if necessary.


Michigan

Michigan was the site of the largest of the "re-open" protests. The first confirmed case of coronavirus was recognized in Michigan on March 10, 2020. On April 15, the day of the protest, Michigan had at least 28,059 confirmed cases—the third highest number of cases in the United States—and 1,921 deaths had been attributed to the disease in the state. Metropolitan Detroit had been pronounced a "hot spot". Initial state actions to limit spread of the virus included closure of all K-12 schools, closure of bars, restaurants, and entertainment venues, and a ban on gatherings of more than 50 people. On March 24 a statewide stay-at-home order was issued which limited non-essential travel and ordered all non-essential business services and operations to close. The order was extended in early April with additional restrictions included. On April 15, 2020, as estimated by the state police, 20,000 people took part in a protest they called "Operation Gridlock" in the area surrounding the
Michigan State Capitol The Michigan State Capitol is the building that houses the legislative branch of the government of the U.S. state of Michigan. It is in the portion of the state capital of Lansing which lies in Ingham County. The present structure, at the interse ...
in Lansing. Most protestors remained in their vehicles, jamming the streets around the capitol building, although around 150 protested on the capitol lawn. The protest lasted eight hours. The protest caused delays during a shift-change at
Sparrow Hospital Sparrow Hospital is a 733-bed teaching hospital located in Lansing, Michigan that provides care for the greater Mid-Michigan region. The hospital is a subsidiary of Sparrow Health System, and is affiliated with the Colleges of Human Medicine and ...
. Police described the protesters as respectful, with most trying to maintain social distancing; no arrests were made. Protesters complained of loss of work and other economic hardship caused by the state government's coronavirus response. Some felt that if they were not sick, that they should have the freedom to continue with their normal routine. Others claimed violation of their
civil liberties Civil liberties are guarantees and freedoms that governments commit not to abridge, either by constitution, legislation, or judicial interpretation, without due process. Though the scope of the term differs between countries, civil liberties may ...
or expressed opposition to Governor Gretchen Whitmer's administration. Some protesters lived in more rural areas of Michigan that had not seen as many coronavirus cases as the cities of Detroit or Flint. On April 30, a second protest organized as part of the "American Revolution 2.0" national protest occurred when hundreds of protesters, many carrying firearms, gathered at the Michigan Capitol. Many protesters were able to enter the building. The demonstration had assistance organizing locally by the conservative group American Patriot Council . The protest was much smaller than the one on April 15, but the show of firearms and the violent tone of some of the signs indicated that things were changing. Some protesters compared the Governor to Adolf Hitler while children danced in masks of Donald Trump and Barack Obama on the steps of the Capitol. Governor Whitmer extended the
state of emergency A state of emergency is a situation in which a government is empowered to be able to put through policies that it would normally not be permitted to do, for the safety and protection of its citizens. A government can declare such a state du ...
regardless. On May 14, more armed protesters, organized by the group Michigan United for Liberty, gathered outside the Michigan State Capitol. The organization's Facebook group was deleted over death threats against Governor Whitmer and a fight broke out over a doll tied to a noose at the protest. The Michigan Legislature closed its scheduled session to avoid the possibility of another armed confrontation inside the chamber. On May 20, seven hairdressers were ticketed for cutting hair on the steps of the Michigan State Capitol, for allegedly violating their licenses. The charges were later dropped. A peaceful demonstration of prayers organized by the religious non-profit Transformation Michigan was performed on the Capitol lawn on May 28.


Minnesota

On April 17, about 800 protesters gathered outside the Governor's Mansion in St. Paul for a "Liberate Minnesota" encouraged by President Trump's tweets. On April 19, Sven Sundgaard, a meteorologist at NBC affiliate KARE11, reposted a quote from a Rabbi Michael Latz accusing the right wing protesters of being ''"white nationalist Nazi sympathizer gun fetishist miscreants"'' on his personal Facebook page. Sundgaard was subsequently fired for "ethics violations." On May 11, a few dozen people gathered outside Albert Lea City Hall for a "prayer protest" in response to the pandemic lockdown. On May 23, more than 200 attended what was supposed to be the reopening of a tavern in Albany. After attorneys obtained an
injunction An injunction is a legal and equitable remedy in the form of a special court order that compels a party to do or refrain from specific acts. ("The court of appeals ... has exclusive jurisdiction to enjoin, set aside, suspend (in whole or in pa ...
to prevent the reopening, the crowd became a protest. Attendees harassed a reporter for wearing a mask and intentionally coughed in public while not wearing masks. On June 25, a couple wore Nazi flags in lieu of masks on their faces while shopping at a grocery store in Marshall.


North Dakota

Even though Governor Doug Burgum did not issue a stay-at-home order, about 150 protesters gathered outside the North Dakota State Capitol in Bismarck to demand the state government reopen concert venues, movie theaters, gyms, nail salons, massage parlors and barber shops.


Ohio

Protests began in Ohio on April 9, with about 75 gathering outside of the
Ohio Statehouse The Ohio Statehouse is the List of state and territorial capitols in the United States, state capitol building and seat of government for the U.S. state of Ohio. The Greek Revival building is located on Capitol Square in Downtown Columbus, Ohio, ...
to protest Governor
Mike DeWine Richard Michael DeWine (; born January 5, 1947) is an American politician and attorney serving as the 70th and current governor of Ohio. A member of the Republican Party, DeWine began his career as a prosecutor before being elected to the O ...
's stay at home order. A second protest on April 13 grew to a group of 200–300 people. The following weekend, protests began on April 17, with dozens protesting outside the east side of the Statehouse. The next day, April 18, the protests grew to hundreds. Protesters carried signs with slogans lamenting the loss of liberties for the sake of safety, as well as signs critical of state officials, and demanded that the state be immediately reopened. The governor said that he would not interfere with the protests, provided they adhered to social distancing guidelines. Photographs from the protests on April 18 indicated that not all protesters had been honoring those guidelines; however, many of them stayed in cars. On May 2, a small group of anti-lockdown protesters in Bexley patrolled the streets outside the private residence of Ohio Department of Health Director Dr.
Amy Acton Amy Leigh Acton (née Stearns; ) is an American physician and public-health researcher who served as the director of the Ohio Department of Health from 2019–2020. She played a leading role in Ohio's response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Earl ...
. The Bexley City Council briefly considered a
local ordinance A local ordinance is a law issued by a local government. such as a municipality, county, parish, prefecture, or the like. China In Hong Kong, all laws enacted by the territory's Legislative Council remain to be known as ''Ordinances'' () af ...
banning protests outside Acton's home, but ultimately decided against the measure.


Wisconsin

Several thousand people gathered at the state capitol in
Madison Madison may refer to: People * Madison (name), a given name and a surname * James Madison (1751–1836), fourth president of the United States Place names * Madison, Wisconsin, the state capital of Wisconsin and the largest city known by this ...
on April 24 to protest the state's "Safer at Home" rules requiring social distancing and the closure of nonessential businesses. On that day the state health department announced 304 new positive tests—the most new cases most since the pandemic began. On May 8, Wisconsin DHS reported that over 72 individuals who tested positive for COVID-19 had recently attended a "large event."


Northeast


Connecticut

Hundreds of protesters paraded through Hartford at the
CT Liberty Rally
on April 20 demanding that businesses closed by Governor Ned Lamont's coronavirus legislation be reopened. The
Libertarian Party of Connecticut The Libertarian Party of Connecticut is a statewide affiliate of the U.S. Libertarian Party. According to the bylaws posted on its web site, the Connecticut Libertarian Party has the basic aims of furthering individual freedom and opposing the ...
organized the event.


Massachusetts

About a dozen protesters gathered outside Governor Charlie Baker's home in Swampscott on April 23. Supporters made laps up and down the street in vehicles with MAGA flags, while medical workers tried to convince them to disperse. On April 26, protesters met outside a
Bristol County Bristol County may refer to: Places * Bristol County, Massachusetts Bristol () is a city, ceremonial county and unitary authority in England. Situated on the River Avon, it is bordered by the ceremonial counties of Gloucestershire to the no ...
government building in
Fall River Fall River is a city in Bristol County, Massachusetts, United States. The City of Fall River's population was 94,000 at the 2020 United States Census, making it the tenth-largest city in the state. Located along the eastern shore of Mount H ...
. On May 4, hundreds gathered outside the
Massachusetts State House The Massachusetts State House, also known as the Massachusetts Statehouse or the New State House, is the List of state capitols in the United States, state capitol and seat of government for the Massachusetts, Commonwealth of Massachusetts, lo ...
for a "Liberty Rally" promoted by conservative radio show host
Jeffrey Kuhner Jeffrey Thomas Kuhner (born 1 September 1969) is an American talk radio host and political commentator, heard on weekdays from 6 am to 10 am on WRKO AM 680 in Boston, Massachusetts. He was the editor of ''Insight on the News'' and a ...
and by
Super Happy Fun America Super Happy Fun America (SHFA) is a Massachusetts-based Conservatism in the United States, right-wing political organization. SHFA and its leaders are known for their ties to white nationalism and the Far-right politics, far-right, and the organi ...
, the organizers of the controversial 2019 Boston Straight Pride Parade. The rally crowd was "tightly packed", largely ignored social distancing protocols, and many in the group refused to wear masks.


New Hampshire

Hundreds, including
libertarian Libertarianism (from french: libertaire, "libertarian"; from la, libertas, "freedom") is a political philosophy that upholds liberty as a core value. Libertarians seek to maximize autonomy and political freedom, and minimize the state's e ...
talk show host Ian Freeman, protested at the
New Hampshire State House The New Hampshire State House, located in Concord at 107 North Main Street, is the state capitol building of New Hampshire. The capitol houses the New Hampshire General Court, Governor, and Executive Council. The building was constructed on a ...
on April 17 calling on Governor Chris Sununu to reopen the state.


New Jersey

On April 17, an anti-lockdown protest occurred in Trenton. Days later, charges were brought against the organizer of the rally for violating social distancing guidelines. A smaller group of protesters also demonstrated in a Walmart parking lot in
Hamilton Hamilton may refer to: People * Hamilton (name), a common British surname and occasional given name, usually of Scottish origin, including a list of persons with the surname ** The Duke of Hamilton, the premier peer of Scotland ** Lord Hamilt ...
that same day. On May 20, hundreds of hairdressers and barbers organized by the "NJ Salon And Spa Coalition" gathered in Verona Park dressed in black to plead for the state to reopen their businesses. On November 28, a pro-Trump "Stop the Steal' caravan protest traveled around New Jersey for several hours starting near the Trump Golf Course in Bedminster and ending near Governor Murphy's home in Middletown where the focus shifted to criticizing the statewide lockdown restrictions.


New York

On April 22, scores of cars and trucks blared their horns near Albany's Capitol Park in a protest called "Operation Gridlock: Reopen NY". On May 1, hundreds protested in Commack,
Long Island Long Island is a densely populated island in the southeastern region of the U.S. state of New York (state), New York, part of the New York metropolitan area. With over 8 million people, Long Island is the most populous island in the United Sta ...
. Most protesters ignored social-distancing protocols, but no arrests were made, according to Suffolk County police.


Pennsylvania

On Patriots' Day, April 20, hundreds of protesters marched on Pennsylvania's state capitol building during a Monday morning "Operation Gridlock Pennsylvania" event in Harrisburg. The protest was organized by three groups, "Re-open Pennsylvania", "End the Lockdown Pennsylvania" and "Pennsylvania Against Excessive Quarantine" led in part by an Ohio-based Second Amendment rights activist named Chris Dorr.


Rhode Island

Anti-lockdown protesters clashed with a line of healthcare worker counter-protesters outside the
Rhode Island State House The Rhode Island State House, the capitol of the state of Rhode Island, is located at 900 Smith Street just below the crest of Smith Hill, on the border of downtown in Providence. It is a neoclassical building designed by McKim, Mead & White wh ...
on April 25.


Vermont

According to the
VTDigger VTDigger is an investigative journalism platform that reports on politics, businesses, events, and public policy of Vermont. VTDigger was founded in September 2009 by its current Executive Director, Anne Galloway, who was nominated for the "Verm ...
, 7 to 10 anti-lockdown protesters gathered in Montpelier on April 20.


South


Alabama

Approximately 60 anti-lockdown protesters marched near the Alabama State Capitol at "Reopen Alabama" rally in Montgomery on April 21.


Florida

Anti-lockdown protesters marched from the Governor's Mansion to the Old Capitol Building in Tallahassee to demand that the state allow businesses to go back to work. On May 11, a group of 20 to 30 protesters did squats and sit-up exercises outside the courthouse in
Clearwater Clearwater or Clear Water may refer to: Places Canada * Clear Water Academy, a private Catholic school located in Calgary, Alberta * Clearwater (provincial electoral district), a former provincial electoral district in Alberta * Clearwater, Briti ...
to call for the reopening of gyms.


Kentucky

Dozens of people gathered on the lawn of the state capitol in Frankfort in the afternoon of Wednesday, April 15, 2020, to protest Governor Andy Beshear's anti-coronavirus measures. They could also be heard inside the capitol building. Throughout Governor Beshear's one-hour press briefing, the protesters chanted continuously and occasionally blew a horn. The principal demand was that businesses in the state be reopened. On May 25, a group of protesters organized by Take Back Kentucky, angry about the Second Amendment and coronavirus restrictions, hung the governor in
effigy An effigy is an often life-size sculptural representation of a specific person, or a prototypical figure. The term is mostly used for the makeshift dummies used for symbolic punishment in political protests and for the figures burned in certai ...
in front of the Kentucky statehouse. A sign reading " sic semper tyrannis" was attached to the hanging doll.


Louisiana

On July 14, a man was arrested after being asked by a police officer to wear a mask inside a Walmart in
West Monroe West Monroe is a city in Ouachita Parish, Louisiana, United States. It is situated on the Ouachita River, across from the neighboring city of Monroe. The two cities are often referred to as the Twin Cities of northeast Louisiana. Its populati ...
. The man allegedly struck the officer twice with his car.


Maryland

On Saturday, April 18, ReOpen Maryland and Marylanders Against Excessive Quarantine held a driving protest in the state capital,
Annapolis Annapolis ( ) is the capital city of the U.S. state of Maryland and the county seat of, and only incorporated city in, Anne Arundel County. Situated on the Chesapeake Bay at the mouth of the Severn River, south of Baltimore and about east o ...
, against state restrictions continuing beyond May 1, drawing a claimed "at least 200 cars full of people." On Saturday, May 2, ReOpen Maryland organized another driving protest between rallies in Frederick,
Chester Chester is a cathedral city and the county town of Cheshire, England. It is located on the River Dee, close to the English–Welsh border. With a population of 79,645 in 2011,"2011 Census results: People and Population Profile: Chester Loca ...
, and Salisbury, a span of 155 miles. Republican Rep. Andy Harris addressed the rally in Salisbury, comparing Maryland to North Korea, saying, "I didn't wake up in Communist China and I didn't wake up in North Korea...and tomorrow morning, I should be able to go to the church of my choice and worship the way I choose." ReOpen Maryland protested in Annapolis without cars on Friday, May 15, and again on Saturday, May 30. Another rally was held in Westminster on Saturday, June 6. Reopen Baltimore County held a rally in the county seat of Towson on Friday, May 22. Reopen Howard County held a rally at the Howard County courthouse in the county seat of Ellicott City on Tuesday, May 26. In late June, the chair and co-founder of ReOpen Maryland said that he had tested positive for coronavirus but he would not help with contact tracing efforts. He said that got coronavirus "because Satan demmed to get it. Because he wanted to quiet my work." He said later that he and his family contracted COVID-19 and that he developed pneumonia because of it, but he still does not believe that the state needs to be shut down. On September 18, 2020, Reopen Maryland and Return2Learn Maryland Schools organized a protest march in downtown Annapolis urging the governor to reopen all Maryland businesses and schools. Attendance was described as "hundreds of people" or "nearly a hundred Marylanders, most without masks".


Mississippi

Dozens of protesters carrying
Trump campaign There have been four presidential campaigns waged by Donald Trump for President of the United States. He has additionally mused about running on several other occasions. Donald Trump presidential campaign may refer to: * Donald Trump 2000 presid ...
merchandise and
Confederate Flags The flags of the Confederate States of America have a history of three successive designs during the American Civil War. The flags were known as the "Stars and Bars", used from 1861 to 1863; the "Stainless Banner", used from 1863 to 1865; and ...
rallied to "Open Up Mississippi" in Jackson on April 25.


North Carolina

In Raleigh, about 100 people protested outside the capitol building on April 14. One woman was arrested for violating the governor's order and refusing to leave the parking lot. A second "ReOpen NC" protest of about 300 people was held on April 21—a day on which the state's coronavirus death toll increased by 34 to a total of 213. A leader of the ReOpen NC group revealed in a Facebook post that she tested positive for COVID-19. She described herself as an "asymptomatic COVID19 positive patient." After her antibody test came back negative but her COVID-19 test result was positive, she was given a quarantine order. She has alleged that this violated her civil rights. In North Carolina some anti-lockdown protesters were known to be carrying massive amounts of weapons including an AT-4 Anti-Tank Rocket Launcher.


Texas

On Saturday, April 18, hundreds protested at the statehouse in Austin, Texas at a "You Can't Close America" rally organized by '' InfoWars'' Alex Jones. On May 12, hair salon owner Shelley Luther was found guilty of civil and criminal contempt in Dallas for ignoring a temporary restraining order. After earning the support from Sean Hannity and Ted Cruz for her alleged
civil disobedience Civil disobedience is the active, professed refusal of a citizen to obey certain laws, demands, orders or commands of a government (or any other authority). By some definitions, civil disobedience has to be nonviolent to be called "civil". Hen ...
and half a million dollars in gofundme money, she admitted to receiving $18,000 in stimulus money designed to help her business while it remained closed. On May 23, a few dozen protesters gathered outside the Texas State Capitol in Austin for a "Texas Freedom Rally" sponsored by the Texas Freedom Coalition. Shelly Luther was a speaker. On July 4, 2020, an event called "The Freedom Rally" was held in front of the
Tom Green County Courthouse The Tom Green County Courthouse, at 100 W. Beauregard Ave. in San Angelo, Texas, is a Classical Revival courthouse with a monumental Corinthian column colonnades on two facades which was designed by architect Anton Korn and was built in 1928. It ...
in San Angelo to protest masks, lockdowns, the science behind COVID-19 and "liberal media." In August 2021, rally organizer Caleb Wallace died of COVID-19 leaving behind three daughters and a pregnant wife.


West


Alaska

On April 23, a caravan of vehicles paraded through downtown
Anchorage Anchorage () is the largest city in the U.S. state of Alaska by population. With a population of 291,247 in 2020, it contains nearly 40% of the state's population. The Anchorage metropolitan area, which includes Anchorage and the neighboring Ma ...
honking horns, waving flags and displaying signs that read "Open Alaska", "Don't Tread on Me" and "Shrink government, open business." The protesters primarily opposed Democratic mayor
Ethan Berkowitz Ethan Avram Berkowitz (born February 4, 1962) is an American attorney, businessman, and politician from Alaska. From 1997 to 2007 he was the Alaska State Representative for District 26, serving as the Democratic Party Minority Leader from 1999 t ...
for being too slow in ending the lockdown. Protesters expressed that they were on the same side as the state's Republican governor on the issue.


California

On April 17, a group of more than 200 protested against the stay-at-home rules in Huntington Beach. The protesters demanded the reopening of California's economy. A 36-year-old attorney was arrested for pulling a knife on a television crew, forcing them into their van and ordering them to delete any footage they had filmed of him. He held the crew in the van against their will before being stopped and arrested by police. On April 18, several hundred people protested in
Downtown San Diego Downtown San Diego is the city center of San Diego, California, the eighth largest city in the United States. In 2010, the Centre City area had a population of more than 28,000. Downtown San Diego serves as the cultural and financial center and ...
, saying they wanted businesses and beaches reopened. Another protest occurred April 19 in Encinitas. On April 20, hundreds of protesters marched or drove around the California State Capitol in Sacramento. The rally was organized by the Freedom Angels, a group best known for its opposition to mandatory vaccination. Following this protest, the California Highway Patrol announced that it will no longer issue permits for any events on state properties. On April 25, at least three protesters were arrested for violating the stay-at-home order and refusing to leave a closed beach in Encinitas. On April 25, at least 200 people protested at "A Day of Liberty San Diego Freedom Rally" on Pacific Beach organized by the same people who organized last weeks downtown rally. The rally was strongly condemned by community leaders, but arrests were not reported. On April 26, protesters carrying signs that said "SM BIZ MATTERS" and "My constitutional rights are essential" gathered in Palm Springs. On May 1, a series of simultaneous protests all over California were planned for Friday but only three attracted large crowds. Hundreds gathered and 32 were arrested in Sacramento. 2500 to 3000 gathered in Huntington Beach to protest the Governor's new order to re-close beaches in
Orange County Orange County most commonly refers to: *Orange County, California, part of the Los Angeles metropolitan area Orange County may also refer to: U.S. counties *Orange County, Florida, containing Orlando *Orange County, Indiana *Orange County, New ...
. On May 1, 1000, anti-lockdown protesters rallied in Ventura. The event was described as a "nonpolitical peaceful protest to fully reopen California." Ventura Police Department officials said they estimated the size at about 1,000 people. On May 1, about 100 cars draped in American Flags and signs reading "Open Our Country" and "Remember the Constitution" jammed
De la Guerra Plaza Plaza de la Guerra, also known as De La Guerra Plaza, is a public plaza in downtown Santa Barbara, California, USA, located right next to the ''Santa Barbara News-Press'' offices. It is best known for the activities that take place there during Sa ...
in Santa Barbara on Friday afternoon. On May 2, one hundred plus anti-lockdown protesters rallied in Laguna Beach. An MSNBC reporter was attacked mid-broadcast by a protester who got in his personal space and yelled at him to "take off that damn mask." On May 2, a lone man protested face-mask requirements by openly wearing a
Ku Klux Klan The Ku Klux Klan (), commonly shortened to the KKK or the Klan, is an American white supremacist, right-wing terrorist, and hate group whose primary targets are African Americans, Jews, Latinos, Asian Americans, Native Americans, and ...
hood at Vons supermarket in
Santee Santee may refer to: People * Santee Dakota, a subgroup of the Dakota people, of the U.S. Great Plains * Santee (South Carolina), a Native American people of South Carolina Places * Lake Santee, Indiana, a reservoir and census-designated place * ...
. Less than a week later, a couple pushing a stroller shopped at a
Food 4 Less Food 4 Less is the name of several grocery store chains, the largest of which is currently owned by Kroger. It is a no-frills grocery store where the customers bag their own groceries at the checkout. Kroger operates Food 4 Less stores in the ...
in Santee with Nazi
swastika The swastika (卐 or 卍) is an ancient religious and cultural symbol, predominantly in various Eurasian, as well as some African and American cultures, now also widely recognized for its appropriation by the Nazi Party and by neo-Nazis. It ...
s on their masks. On May 3, about 300 protesters rallied in
Rancho Cucamonga Rancho Cucamonga was a Mexican land grant in present-day San Bernardino County, California, given in 1839 to the dedicated soldier, smuggler and politician Tiburcio Tapia by Mexican governor Juan Bautista Alvarado. The grant formed parts of pr ...
, ignored social-distancing rules, held Trump banners and chanted "
Four More Years ''Four More Years'' is a 1972 documentary covering the 1972 Republican National Convention produced by Top Value Television. The title of the film refers to Richard Nixon's re-election slogan. The convention named Nixon as the Presidential nom ...
." On May 21, the leader of a Stay Home Order protest was arrested in San Clemente for refusing to comply with a dispersal order. On May 23, over 2000 protesters join LibertyFest anti-lockdown rally next to California State Capitol in Sacramento. On July 14, gyms in
Riverside Riverside may refer to: Places Australia * Riverside, Tasmania, a suburb of Launceston, Tasmania Canada * Riverside (electoral district), in the Yukon * Riverside, Calgary, a neighbourhood in Alberta * Riverside, Manitoba, a former rural m ...
and University Heights, San Diego remained open despite Governor Newsom's renewed statewide closings. On July 15, a grocery store employee in Los Angeles used pepper spray against a customer who allegedly assaulted a woman after being asked to wear a mask. On July 28, about five dozen hairstylists gathered in front of San Diego City Hall to protest county rules prohibiting salons from providing services indoors. On November 30, hundreds, including former UFC champion Tito Ortiz, gathered at a pier in Huntington Beach for a "curfew breaker" protest against COVID-19 restrictions. On January 24, 2021, a church group protested San Diego County's purple tier restrictions at a "Let Us Worship" event in El Cajon. Mayor William Wells led prayers while hundreds of mostly maskless protesters ignored social distancing protocols. On April 13, 2021, anti-mask protesters stormed a grocery store in Carmel Valley, San Diego taking an emotional toll on staff. On April 10, 2022, thousands gathered for a "Defeat the Mandates" rally in Grand Park in front of Los Angeles City Hall. Truckers from the People's Convoy and protesters from as far away as New York listened to speakers and musical performers opposed to several COVID-19 related bills in the state legislature.


Colorado

A Facebook event was created for a gathering called "Operation Gridlock Denver" for April 19, with more than 550 people stating they were going to the event. The operation plan was to "drive to the capitol in Denver and gridlock the roads in protest to the mandatory lockdowns and violation of constitutional rights..." Footage from the counter-protest went viral after counter-protestors dressed as nurses silently stood in front of cars participating in the protest Operation Gridlock, while wearing their scrubs and N95 face masks. One nurse who participated in the counter-protest stated the protest felt like "a slap in the face to medical workers". The counter protestors claimed to be nurses from a local hospital but declined to identify themselves or their employer.


Idaho

Several hundred protesters assembled at the Idaho State Capitol building in Boise under the slogan "Disobey Idaho" on April 17. The protest was organized by three conservative groups—the "Idaho Freedom Foundation", "Idaho Second Amendment Alliance" and " Health Freedom Idaho"—and emceed by Republican
state representative A state legislature is a legislative branch or body of a political subdivision in a federal system. Two federations literally use the term "state legislature": * The legislative branches of each of the fifty state governments of the United Sta ...
Tammy Nichols Tammy Nichols (born February 1976) is an American politician and speaker serving as a member of the Idaho Senate for District 10. She is also a co-chair of thIdaho Freedom Caucus Early life and education Nichols was born in Boise, Idaho and ...
. On August 25, activist
Ammon Bundy Ammon Edward Bundy (born September 1, 1975) is an American anti-government militant and activist. A car fleet manager by profession, Bundy gained widespread attention by leading the 2016 occupation of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge. He is t ...
was arrested twice in two days for trespassing at the Idaho State Capitol. Dozens more pushed past police and were allowed to sit in the gallery overlooking the Idaho House of Representatives without masks. Speaker
Scott Bedke Scott Conrad Bedke (born April 27, 1958) is an American politician serving as a member of the Idaho House of Representatives for the 27A district. In December 2012, Bedke defeated fellow Republican Lawerence Denney to become speaker of the Idaho ...
ultimately allowed them to fill every seat despite social distancing rules. On March 6, 2021, more than a hundred protesters gathered outside the Idaho State Capitol for a "burn the mask" event organized by the husband of Idaho state representative
Dorothy Moon Dorothy Moon is an American Radical right (United States), far-rightDavid Smith'Republican and more Republican': Idaho shifts ever rightward ''The Guardian'' (May 11, 2022): "elections for other offices of state are more competitive between the ha ...
and others.


Nevada

Hundreds of protesters gathered on April 18 in
Carson City Carson City is an Independent city (United States), independent city and the capital of the U.S. state of Nevada. As of the 2020 United States Census, 2020 census, the population was 58,639, making it the List of cities in Nevada, sixth largest ...
at the Nevada State Capitol and on Carson Street chanting "End the shutdown", "One nation under God", and "Recall Sisolak".


New Mexico

A small group of anti-lockdown protesters gathered at Civic Plaza in Albuquerque for an Operation Gridlock event on April 24. Small protests also took place in Santa Fe and
Farmington Farmington may refer to: Places Canada *Farmington, British Columbia *Farmington, Nova Scotia (disambiguation) United States * Farmington, Arkansas *Farmington, California * Farmington, Connecticut *Farmington, Delaware * Farmington, Georgia ...
.


Oregon

Dozens of protesters circled the
Oregon State Capitol The Oregon State Capitol is the building housing the state legislature and the offices of the governor, secretary of state, and treasurer of the U.S. state of Oregon. It is located in the state capitol, Salem. Constructed from 1936 to 1938 ...
in
Salem Salem may refer to: Places Canada Ontario * Bruce County ** Salem, Arran–Elderslie, Ontario, in the municipality of Arran–Elderslie ** Salem, South Bruce, Ontario, in the municipality of South Bruce * Salem, Dufferin County, Ontario, part ...
in their vehicles on April 17, 2020. 200 people gathered outside City Hall in Redmond. The "Re-Open Oregon" rally was held on May1 and2. On December 21, during an anti-lockdown protest, about 300 demonstrators attempted to storm the
Oregon State Capitol The Oregon State Capitol is the building housing the state legislature and the offices of the governor, secretary of state, and treasurer of the U.S. state of Oregon. It is located in the state capitol, Salem. Constructed from 1936 to 1938 ...
, but they were warded off by responding officers with the
Oregon State Police The Oregon State Police (OSP) is a law enforcement agency of the U.S. state of Oregon. The OSP enforces all of Oregon's criminal laws and assists local law enforcement agencies. Terri Davie has served as Superintendent since November 1, 2020. The ...
. At the time, the State Capitol was hosting a special legislative session closed to the public. The group included members of far-right groups such as
Proud Boys The Proud Boys is an American far-right, neo-fascist, and exclusively male organization that promotes and engages in political violence in the United States.Far-right: * * Fascist: * * * * * Men only: * * * Political violence: * * * It has ...
and Patriot Prayer.


Utah

Hundreds protested on the lawn at Salt Lake City's Washington Square on Saturday, April 18. The day before the protest, according to a police affidavit, Mayor
Erin Mendenhall Erin Mendenhall (born June 8, 1980) is an American politician who has been serving as the mayor of Salt Lake City, Utah since 2020. Upon taking office as Salt Lake City’s 36th mayor, Mendenhall became the city’s third and youngest woman in th ...
was threatened by a man who stated, "The mayor needs to open up the city. If she doesn't, she'll be forcibly removed from office. There's a protest tomorrow and if things don't change, a civil war is coming, and the police can't stop me." The man was arrested and booked for making a terroristic threat and electronic communication harassment.


Washington

The Kitsap County Republican Party coordinated an event "Hazardous Liberty! Defend the Constitution!" called in
Olympia The name Olympia may refer to: Arts and entertainment Film * ''Olympia'' (1938 film), by Leni Riefenstahl, documenting the Berlin-hosted Olympic Games * ''Olympia'' (1998 film), about a Mexican soap opera star who pursues a career as an athlet ...
on April 19. The Olympia event was attended by more than two thousand people. Speakers included three Republican state legislators. On April 26, dozens of boaters in
Lake Union Lake Union is a freshwater lake located entirely within the city limits of Seattle, Washington, United States. It is a major part of the Lake Washington Ship Canal, which carries fresh water from the much larger Lake Washington on the east to ...
protested the state ban on recreational fishing that is part of Governor Jay Inslee's "Stay at Home, Stay Healthy" order.


Wyoming

On April 9, about 20 people protested what they called "government overreach" at Pioneer Park in Casper. Republican Governor Mark Gordon appeared at a protest outside the Wyoming State Capitol in Cheyenne on April 20. On April 24, about 35 people attended a "Rally for Choice to Work" in downtown Casper.


Response

On April 16, President Donald Trump issued guidelines for how to phase out restrictions, saying that governors would decide how to reopen their own states and suggesting a cautious three-phase approach. The next day he reacted to the protests against social restrictions by encouraging the protests, tweeting "LIBERATE MICHIGAN!" and "LIBERATE MINNESOTA!" Trump has continued to defend the protesters by saying; "They seem very responsible to me" and "These are people expressing their views." Stephen Moore, a right-wing member of his economic council, was criticised for comparing the protesters to Rosa Parks. Maia Niguel Hoskin of Vox claimed that "ignorance, privilege, and anti-black racism" was a main factor behind the protests. On April 20, 2020, Facebook announced that it was blocking events and messages from anti-quarantine protest groups "when gatherings do not follow the health parameters established by the government and are therefore unlawful". The governors of New Jersey and Nebraska say they have not asked Facebook to take down the posts. Despite Facebook apparently acting on its own volition, Donald Trump, Jr. claimed Facebook was "colluding with state governments to quash free speech".


State governments

Governor Jay Inslee (D-WA) accused the president of "fomenting domestic rebellion" with his "LIBERATE!" tweets, saying, "The president's statements this morning encourage illegal and dangerous acts. He is putting millions of people in danger of contracting COVID-19." On '' This Week'' two days later, Inslee said the president's call to ignore his own team's guidelines was "schizophrenic". When asked if there is a fundamental right to go to work, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo encouraged protesters to get an essential job. North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper responded to the first protest in his state, saying, "Some people want to completely obliterate these restrictions. It would be a catastrophe. The numbers are very clear that the interventions that we've entered into—social gatherings, limitations on bars and restaurants, the stay at home order—those kinds of things are working."


General public

On April 16,
Pew Research The Pew Research Center is a nonpartisan American think tank (referring to itself as a "fact tank") based in Washington, D.C. It provides information on social issues, public opinion, and demographic trends shaping the United States and the wor ...
polls indicated that 32% of Americans worried state governments would take too long to re-allow public activities, while 66% feared the state restrictions would be lifted too quickly. Many lawmakers and other public figures have condemned the protests as unsafe and ill-advised. Republican Mike Shirkey, the Majority Leader of the
Michigan Senate The Michigan Senate is the upper house of the Michigan Legislature. Along with the Michigan House of Representatives, it composes the state legislature, which has powers, roles and duties defined by Article IV of the Michigan Constitution, ado ...
, called the protesters in his state "a bunch of jackasses."


See also

* Protests over responses to the COVID-19 pandemic *
Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on politics The political impact of the COVID-19 pandemic is the influence that the COVID-19 pandemic has had on politics around the world. The pandemic has affected the governing and political systems of multiple countries, reflected in states of emergenc ...
*
Strikes during the COVID-19 pandemic Strikes occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic due to many factors including: hazard pay or low pay, unsafe working conditions (due to poor social distancing or a lack of personal protective equipment), inability to pay rent. These strikes are se ...
*
U.S. state and local government responses to the COVID-19 pandemic State, territorial, tribal, and local governments have responded to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States with various declarations of emergency, closure of schools and public meeting places, lockdowns, and other restrictions intended ...
* Operation Warp Speed *
Open the States Open the States is a website associated with Convention to propose amendments to the United States Constitution#Convention of States Project, Convention of States Project, also known as Convention of States Action, an "ad-hoc coalition" of individ ...
*
Right-wing antiscience Antiscience is a set of attitudes that involve a rejection of science and the scientific method. People holding antiscientific views do not accept science as an objective method that can generate universal knowledge. Antiscience commonly manifes ...


References


Further reading

* Daly, Diana (May 6, 2020)
"An ethnographer tries to understand the anti-lockdown protests erupting across the US"
''Scroll.in''. Retrieved 2020-05-09. * Hvistendahl, Mara (July 17, 2020)
"Masks Off: How The Brothers Who Fueled The Reopen Protests Built a Volatile Far-Right Network"
'' The Intercept'' {{Portal bar, COVID-19, United States, Politics United States responses to the COVID-19 pandemic United States anti-lockdown protests 2020 controversies in the United States United States anti-lockdown protests Trump administration controversies Protests in the United States United States 2021 controversies in the United States United States anti-lockdown protests Social impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States