NEWS
‘It’s Not A Pandemic!’: Protesters Chant ‘It’s A Hoax’ And ‘Make America Great Again’ In Boston
Hundreds of protesters gathered at the Massachusetts State House in Boston on Monday to demonstrate against the closures ordered by Gov. Charlie Baker (R-MA) to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus.
The demonstrators called for nonessential businesses to reopen and designated Gov. Baker’s stay-at-home order as unconstitutional.
Huge crowd outside of the MA Statehouse calling for the governor to end the lockdown and reopen businesses. State Police are controlling the crowds and managing traffic on Beacon Street. #WBZ
Lots of people standing close together with no mask on. pic.twitter.com/CkvAMYBYPJ
— Tiffany Chan (@TiffanyChanWBZ) May 4, 2020
The crowds were seen carrying signs saying “End shutdown” and “Tyranny is not leadership,” according to CBS Boston and ABC affiliate WCVB5. Some protesters in the crowd wore masks, while others did not.
#BREAKING Protesters taking to the streets outside of the Massachusetts State House calling for the Governor to reopen the state, protesting the stay at home advisory. Some also appear to be protesting the mask mandate that takes effect on Wednesday #7News pic.twitter.com/hRHMopJlcB
— Mike Fahey (@michaelefahey) May 4, 2020
Matt Stout, state house reporter for the Boston Globe, documented the protest from inside the capitol building.
He reported protesters yelling “this is communism” and “we don’t want your shutdown anymore.”
Outside Mass. State House, hundreds of protestors demanding state reopen. After this, crowd chants in unison: “It’s time to make America great again.” pic.twitter.com/PHe6LHE6Vo
— Matt Stout (@MattPStout) May 4, 2020
“It’s not a pandemic!” a speaker falsely claimed to the crowd gathered below. “The reason why they’re doing this … to turn the United States of America into the United Socialist States of America.”
He said the crowd began to chant “It’s a hoax! It’s a hoax!” and later chanted “It’s time to make America great again.”
In last 30 minutes, the rally has grown considerably. Cars passing with Trump signs passing with horns beeping. One lane of Beacon Street blocked off with police and protestors pic.twitter.com/emqPkEeksg
— Matt Stout (@MattPStout) May 4, 2020
In last 30 minutes, the rally has grown considerably. Cars passing with Trump signs passing with horns beeping. One lane of Beacon Street blocked off with police and protestors pic.twitter.com/emqPkEeksg
— Matt Stout (@MattPStout) May 4, 2020
Before the protest, @CharlieBakerMA was asked about the objections to the restrictions and order he's put in place. "Look, I think all of us believe, collectively here, that the decisions that we’ve made were the ones we felt were the best among bad choices, OK."
— Matt Stout (@MattPStout) May 4, 2020
