Protesters at a Salem rally on Friday, April 17, demanded that Oregon drop restrictions that bar gatherings and keep people at home. (Caleb Wolf/Special to Salem Reporter)
Through March, the orders from Gov. Kate Brown grew more restrictive, limiting gatherings first to 250, then to 25, then 10, and then banned them entirely on March 23. She also directed Oregonians to stay home when possible, leaving only for essential chores or for recreation that doesn’t involve a crowd.
Now, some are growing restive about the restrictions, and they showed their frustration in a rally around the closed Capitol on Friday, April 17. Other protests have been staged in states across the country.
A more organized protest is scheduled at the Capitol on Saturday, May 2, billed as the “#ReOpenOregon” rally.
“We are calling on you to stand together and exercise your constitutional right to demand that our government address its grievances against us,” according to a flier promoting the rally. The flier insists that Brown immediately remove her declaration of an emergency.
According to the latest data from the Oregon Health Authority, 1,884 Oregonians have tested positive for COVID-19, and 72 have died. Health authorities say social distancing is necessary to slow the spread of the virus in Oregon.
Protesters at a Salem rally on Friday, April 17, demanded that Oregon drop restrictions that bar gatherings and keep people at home. (Caleb Wolf/Special to Salem Reporter)
Protesters at a Salem rally on Friday, April 17, demanded that Oregon drop restrictions that bar gatherings and keep people at home. (Caleb Wolf/Special to Salem Reporter)
Protesters at a Salem rally on Friday, April 17, demanded that Oregon drop restrictions that bar gatherings and keep people at home. (Caleb Wolf/Special to Salem Reporter)
Protesters at a Salem rally on Friday, April 17, demanded that Oregon drop restrictions that bar gatherings and keep people at home. (Caleb Wolf/Special to Salem Reporter)
Protesters at a Salem rally on Friday, April 17, demanded that Oregon drop restrictions that bar gatherings and keep people at home. (Caleb Wolf/Special to Salem Reporter)
Protesters at a Salem rally on Friday, April 17, demanded that Oregon drop restrictions that bar gatherings and keep people at home. (Caleb Wolf/Special to Salem Reporter)
Protesters at a Salem rally on Friday, April 17, demanded that Oregon drop restrictions that bar gatherings and keep people at home. (Caleb Wolf/Special to Salem Reporter)
Protesters at a Salem rally on Friday, April 17, demanded that Oregon drop restrictions that bar gatherings and keep people at home. (Caleb Wolf/Special to Salem Reporter)
Protesters at a Salem rally on Friday, April 17, demanded that Oregon drop restrictions that bar gatherings and keep people at home. (Caleb Wolf/Special to Salem Reporter)
Protesters at a Salem rally on Friday, April 17, demanded that Oregon drop restrictions that bar gatherings and keep people at home. (Caleb Wolf/Special to Salem Reporter)
Protesters at a Salem rally on Friday, April 17, demanded that Oregon drop restrictions that bar gatherings and keep people at home. (Caleb Wolf/Special to Salem Reporter)
Protesters at a Salem rally on Friday, April 17, demand that Oregon drop restrictions that bar gatherings and keep people at home. (Caleb Wolf/Special to Salem Reporter)
Protesters at a Salem rally on Friday, April 17, demand that Oregon drop restrictions that bar gatherings and keep people at home. (Caleb Wolf/Special to Salem Reporter)
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