Rallies against restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic
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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 .[ 1] [ 2] The protests, mostly organized by conservative groups and individuals,[ 3] [ 4] decried the economic and social impact of stay-at-home orders , business closures, and restricted personal movement and association, and demanded that their respective states be "re-opened" for normal business and personal activity.[ 5]
The protests made international news[ 6] [ 7] and were widely condemned as unsafe and ill-advised,[ 8] although some political figures expressed support for the protests.[ 9] [ 10] 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 .[ 9]
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.[ 11]
^ "Coronavirus: Anti-Lockdown Protests Grow Across US". BBC News. 17 April 2020. Archived from the original on 17 April 2020. Retrieved 17 April 2020.
^ Andone, Dakin (April 17, 2020). "Protests Are Popping Up Across the US over Stay-at-Home Restrictions" . CNN . Archived from the original on May 2, 2020. Retrieved May 3, 2020 .
^ "How Trump allies have organized and promoted anti-lockdown protests" . Reuters . April 22, 2020. Archived from the original on April 23, 2020. Retrieved April 23, 2020 .
^ Wilson, Jason (April 17, 2020). "The rightwing groups behind wave of protests against Covid-19 restrictions" . The Guardian . Archived from the original on April 18, 2020. Retrieved April 18, 2020 .
^ Siegler, Kirk (April 18, 2020). "Across America, Frustrated Protesters Rally To Reopen The Economy" . NPR . Archived from the original on April 22, 2020. Retrieved April 23, 2020 .
^ "Coronavirus: Anti-Lockdown Protests Grow Across US" . US & Canada. BBC News . April 17, 2020. Archived from the original on April 17, 2020. Retrieved April 17, 2020 .
^ Vogel, Kenneth P.; Rutenberg, Jim; Lerer, Lisa (April 21, 2020). "The Quiet Hand of Conservative Groups in the Anti-Lockdown Protests" . The New York Times . Archived from the original on April 22, 2020. Retrieved April 23, 2020 .
^ "Michigan Militia Puts Armed Protest in the Spotlight" . The New York Times . Associated Press . May 2, 2020. Archived from the original on May 5, 2020. Retrieved May 3, 2020 .
^ a b Gearan, Anne; Wagner, John (May 1, 2020). "Trump expresses support for angry anti-shutdown protesters as more states lift coronavirus lockdowns" . The Washington Post . Archived from the original on May 2, 2020. Retrieved May 3, 2020 .
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^ Budryk, Zack (May 3, 2020). "Governors, experts await results of reopening states as protests continue" . The Hill . Archived from the original on May 10, 2020. Retrieved May 9, 2020 .