Hundreds of protesters attended the ‘Reopen North Carolina’ rally on Tuesday despite the group’s leader testing positive for the coronavirus.
The group, which has been campaigning for government officials to reopen the state and relax coronavirus restrictions, were seen gathered outside the North Carolina Legislative Building in Raleigh.
Many waved American flags while others held signs that read: ‘Set our people free.’
The demonstrators called on Gov Roy Cooper to ease the stay-at-home orders for the state where there are more than 9,100 confirmed cases and 306 deaths.
ReOpen NC, which was started by Audrey Whitlock, is promising to hold rallies in Raleigh every Tuesday until the governor’s restrictions are lifted. His stay-at-home order has been extended until May 8.
The ‘Reopen North Carolina’ rally (pictured) went forward as planned on Tuesday despite the group’s leader, Audrey Whitlock, testing positive for the coronavirus
Hundreds of protesters who have been campaigning for government officials to reopen the state and relax coronavirus restrictions were seen gathered outside the North Carolina Legislative Building in Raleigh Tuesday afternoon
People gathered near the North Carolina Legislative building in opposition to the current stay-at-home orders on Tuesday
Many waved American flags while others held signs that read: ‘Set our people free’
Protestors gathered around the entrance of the North Carolina General Assembly building in the minutes before the House and the Senate were scheduled to begin their sessions on Tuesday
Some demonstrators called for the governor to ease restrictions so people can get ‘back to work’
Whitlock was unable to take part in the group’s first two rallies in Raleigh because she was in quarantine. On Sunday, Whitlock took to social media to announce that it marked the last day of her quarantine and described herself as being ‘asymptomatic’.
‘I will take a stand every day until we are a free people again, to sound the alarm because someone has to do the right thing in the face of wrong,’ Whitlock wrote.
In her post, she wrote about how the restrictions put in place amid the COVID-19 pandemic were violating her First Amendment rights as well as her 5th and 14th Amendment rights.
She said she was ‘forced’ to quarantine which violated her First Amendment rights.
‘The reality is that modern society has not been able to eradicate contagious viruses. A typical public health quarantine would occur in a medical facility.
‘I have been told not to participate in public or private accommodations as requested by the government, and therefore denied my 1st amendment right of freedom of religion,’ Whitlock wrote.
She went on to say that: ‘It has been insinuated by others that if I go out, I could be arrested for denying a quarantine order.’
Whitlock wrote that a ‘typical public health quarantine would occur in a medical facility,’.
ReOpen NC, which was started by Audrey Whitlock, is promising to hold rallies in Raleigh every Tuesday until the governor’s restrictions are lifted. His stay-at-home order has been extended until May 8
Around 1,000 people rallied in downtown Raleigh last Tuesday arguing the order violated their constitutional rights
Around 1,000 people rallied in downtown Raleigh last Tuesday arguing the order violated their constitutional rights.
Protesters across the country have flooded the streets to demand an end to their state’s lockdown orders.
In total 13 states – home to 91 million people – have started reopening or announced plans to reopen.
All Missouri businesses and social events will be allowed to reopen from May 4 as long as residents and business owners continue to practice proper social distancing requirements.
In Iowa, restaurants can open at 50 per cent capacity but no more than six people at one table from May 1.
A crowd of protestors gathered at Old Towne Orange in Orange County, California, on Monday to admonish the California’s stay-at-home orders that were enforced because of the COVID-19 pandemic
Protesters wave flags outside of the Ohio State House in Columbus, Ohio, on April 18 to protest the stay home order that is in effect until May 1
Malls, fitness centers, libraries and retail stores can also open at 50 per cent capacity. All other businesses remain closed through May 15.
Nine states currently have no stay-at-home orders for residents but some do have other social distancing restrictions.
Stay-at-home orders issued by governors across the US and subsequent decisions to slowly reopen state economies have turned into highly charged political issues in recent weeks as the shutdowns have hammered the nation’s economy.
Minnesota, Mississippi, Colorado, Montana, Tennessee, Georgia, Oklahoma, Alaska and South Carolina – will, or have already, restarted their economies following weeks of mandatory lockdowns that have thrown millions of American workers out of their jobs.
Public health authorities have warned that increasing human interactions and economic activity may spark a new surge of infections just as social-distancing measures appear to be bringing coronavirus outbreaks under control.