Protests on stay-at-home orders erupt across the country
Across the country in states like Michigan, Wisconsin and Texas, several anti-social distancing protests are occurring against local and state orders to stay home due to COVID-19.
In the race to limit the spread of coronavirus, people in America were ordered to stay home. This began in California as of March, now many cities and counties are under restrictions to keep people home except to attend essential business. This resulted in large companies and businesses to close temporarily and many Americans out of work for weeks.
As of April 16, more than five million Americans are seeking unemployment benefits. Despite expert warnings that the virus could spread faster if states reopen, thousands of people are protesting to support reopening businesses.
Michigan on April 15 was the first state reported to have people protesting the strict stay-at-home orders and protestors in Virginia, Texas, Pennsylvania, Alabama and New York soon followed. On April 21, protesters also gathered at the state capitals in North Carolina and Missouri.
An article by The New York Times stated that, “leaders and groups, some with close connections to the White House, has been quietly working to nurture protests and apply political and legal pressure to overturn state and local orders intended to stop the spread of the coronavirus.”
Two important groups participating in this movement are FreedomWorks and Tea Party Patriots and their primary focus is on the US economy. They were able to pick up some influential support against the orders, but most Americans support keeping the stay-at-home orders in place.
As of April 25, the Governors of South Carolina haven’t made an update on how long the stay-at-home orders will be in place.
