Recently, here have been many protests against the shelter-in-place orders in place across most of the US. The protesters, many of whom have been ignoring social distancing guidelines in these protests, are claiming that the stay-at-home orders are too harsh and go against their constitutional rights. Those protesting, who are being supported by influential conservative groups and leaders, believe that the orders restricting business operations and social gatherings are unnecessary and harmful to the economy.
The most significant of the protests occurring across the country in Colorado, Michigan, Ohio, Kentucky, Minnesota, North Carolina, Utah, New York and Washington have been widely criticized as they directly conflict with the advice from healthcare professionals to stay at home and limit your contact with other people. The danger of reopening the country too soon would be that there could be a second, and possibly even deadlier, wave of infections of the coronavirus.
Despite the risks, as well as the recent White House guidelines recommending the state have a 14-day downward trajectory for cases before reopening some governors are already considering reopening. In fact, the governors in Georgia and South Carolina have announced that they are going to start lifting the restrictions for businesses.
There have been smaller protests in support of reopening states across the country, including in Oregon. On April 17 around 75 cars circled the block around the Oregon State Capital and dozens were gathered on the sidewalk in front of the building in support of the #ReOpenOregon movement. There have also been other protests across the state, like one in Redmond in which hundreds of people ignored social distancing orders and gathered in front of Redmond City Hall to protest the governor’s stay-at-home order currently in place in Oregon.
