BOSTON (WHDH) - Hundreds of protestors, many of whom weren’t wearing masks, gathered outside of the State House on Monday and called on Gov. Charlie Baker to lift the statewide stay-at-home advisory and reopen the economy.
“We want to work. We want to be out there. We want to feed our family,” one protester told 7NEWS. “We don’t have to be locked in our houses.”
Video from Sky7HD showed a massive crowd of people gathered on the State House steps, chanting, “U-S-A! U-S-A! U-S-A!”
“It’s just ridiculous. We’re all adults and Americans. We should be able to make our own decision,” a supporter of President Trump said.
Another protester could be seen holding a sign that read, “Lock up Fauci, Gates for crimes against humanity.”
A man wearing a “Keep America Great” hat urged Baker to end the lockdown “hoax.”
“He’s a fake Republican. He’s being controlled. He’s being controlled by the Democrats in this State House,” the protester said.
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Other protesters referred to the coronavirus as “basically the flu.” They also called the safeguards that Baker has implemented to guard against the spread of the potentially deadly disease “way overdone.”
Baker’s non-essential business closure order and stay-at-home advisory remain in effect through May 18.
Starting on Wednesday, any resident or worker who can not safely practice social distancing in public must wear a mask or face-covering. Violators could face a $300 fine.
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