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Out at a protest against Colorado's coronavirus stay at home order. It's loud.
Angie Conde, 75, from Greeley, said she came out to the rally because she believes the state needs to reopen. "I just feel like they are making too big of a thing out of this virus," she said, noting the economic inpact on small businesses. "I juat want to get back to normal."
I'd guess a couole hundred here on the capitol steps.
There is a woman here selling Make America Great hats, and a man shouting that "abortion kills more people everyday than coronavirus."
Jim Fenimore, left, from Colorado Springs, said he is protesting because "Our constitutional rights are being violated." He says the reaction to the virus is a scare tactic designed to make President Trump look bad.
Fenimore said it is a good idea to take precautions like handwashing or staying home when sick, but said closing businesses goes too far. The stay home order should be lifted now, not April 26, he said. "Every day that goes by is hurting the state."
Some folks are wearing masks but not many are social distancing
Riley Carlson, 25, of Denver, said she is protesting because she lost her job as a dog walker and a second part time job at a winery, which is facing bankruptcy. She is losing about $1200 to $1600 a month, money she and her husband had been saving for a house.
She said Americans know how to stay safe despite the virus now, and said she will continue to wear a mask and social distance for a while. "I do not operate from a place of fear," she said. "I operate from a place of knowledge."
Man on horseback, in a cowboy hat, just rode by and got a big round of cheers. Another man with a rather robust sound system is now preaching about the return of Jesus Christ.
This protest is scheduled to last for 2.5 more hours.
Steady stream of passing cars and non-stop honking out here.
Protester Mary Conley, of Jefferson County, said she believes the initial shutdown was OK, but that it has gone on too long. "Pot shops are open, abortion clinics are open and my church is closed," she said.
She said she wore a mask even though she doesn't think she needs one, because she didn't want to offend or scare anyone else. "Death is part of life, and it is time to start living again," Conley said.
There's a sentiment among those I've talked to that the predictive models for the number of cases were designed as deliberate lies meant to incite fear.
These two protesters were just briedly detained for carrying firearms in the city. After being handcuffed, they were let go with a warning as long as they put their guns away. They declined to share their names with me.
The man was carrying a sign that said "Make 1984 fiction again."
Signs I've seen: "Isolating sick people is quarantine. Isolating healthy people is tyranny" "Freedom over fear" "Facts not fear" "Say no to Bill Gates" "Pontius Polis" "More freedom less tyranny"
Protester Diana Paradise, standing left, said she is here because she believes the choice to stay home should be made by individuals, not by the government. "COVID is real but the fear is not," she said. "If it were, every grocery store worker would have COVID and would be sick."
It seems like the drive-by protest traffic might be lightening up a little here, although there is still a large crowd gathered on the lawn.
Chants of "U-S-A" just started
A man and woman just took off their shirts and ran by the crowd to cheers. The woman was wearing a sports bra or bikini top.
Check out more coverage with the @denverpost https://www.denverpost.com/2020/04/19/colorado-coronavirus-protests-capitol-sunday/
One hour to go and everyone is Still going strong here
The street preacher, the one with the robust sound system, is now preaching about the dangers of skinny jeans.
A pickup truck just went by with two skeltons in the back that were holding signs that read, "Listened to Polis," and "Trusted the government"
Cars are lined up for blocks waiting to get in front of the capitol. Most are just circling.
The crowd is definitely dwindling now, after 3.5 hours.
Everyone has just about cleared out keep an eye on http://denverpost.com for a full story shortly.
