Following protests that took place at capitols in at least 10 different states calling for the reopening of businesses, Deborah Birx, the White House coronavirus task force coordinator, called the demonstrations “devastatingly worrisome,” according to multiple reports.
Birx said on “Fox News Sunday” that during these demonstrations, protesters were not wearing masks, nor were they practicing social distancing, and for those reasons, could possibly unknowingly infect at-risk relatives.
“It’s devastatingly worrisome to me personally because if they go home and they infect their grandmother or grandfather who has a comorbid condition and they have a serious or very unfortunate outcome they will feel guilty for the rest of their lives,” she said. “So we need to protect each other at the same time as we’re voicing our discontent.”
The Hill reported that on Thursday, April 30, demonstrators—some of whom were armed—were present at Michigan Statehouse to demand the state’s Democrat governor, Gretchen Whitmer, to reopen and allow the citizens to continue their normal lives.
President Donald Trump offered his support to the protesters in a Tweet, saying the governor of Michigan should talk to them and make a deal.
Protests
KCRA reported that on Friday, protesters were also present at the California State Capitol protesting the stay-at-home order put in place by the state’s Democrat governor, Gavin Newsom.
One of the protesters said they’re trying to “reach out to the government and make their concerns, worries, fears, anger, frustration known,” as well as “exercise their freedom of speech and right to peacefully assemble and let him know that he’s destroying the state economically—but more importantly our freedoms.”
During the demonstration, individuals were holding up signs that demanded the state to be opened and for Newsom to lift restrictions on public life and the economy.
On the same day, demonstrators were present at the Hawaii state capitol to protest the stay-at-home order, according to Hawaii News Now. Some of the protesters present weren’t wearing masks.
During the protest, people were holding up signs demanding that Hawaii be reopened and life return to normal.
“People need to get back to work. The churches need to open up. People are hurting, people are hungry. It’s ridiculous, open it back up, what’s the point?” according to protesters.
Protesters were also present in the Minnesota Capitol on Saturday, according to MPR News. Dozens of people were present, protesting the stay-at-home measures, which they say are causing too much damage and are infringing upon people’s rights.
