Protest To Reopen Maryland Planned For April 18: Coronavirus

ANNAPOLIS, MD — Marylanders frustrated by the stay-at-home order issued last month by Gov. Larry Hogan due to the new coronavirus are holding a protest Saturday from noon to 2 p.m. They're calling it Operation Gridlock Annapolis and it's being organized by Reopen Maryland. They're demanding the governor reopen the state by May 1.

“We are the strongest country on the planet and have put a man on the moon, there is no compelling reason why we can’t protect the sick and vulnerable and get our economy back to work,” the Facebook event states.

The group describes itself on its Facebook page as "Maryland citizens concerned about the impact of mass shutdowns and school closures in response to COVID-19. We are committed to peaceful advocacy for public health measures that respect Marylanders' civil rights, economic well-being and educational access. We support immediate, responsible reopening of our state's business, educational and religious institutions."

As of Friday afternoon, more than 100 people have indicated on Facebook that they plan to attend the event. However, no more than 10 people at a time can gather in one place.

On April 16, the group created a petition for people to sign and show support for reopening the state. According to the Change.org petition, the group is aiming for 1,500 signatures. As of Saturday morning, the petition was had nearly reached that goal.

Some have spoken out against the initiative on the group's Facebook page.

"You need to read and heed the counsel from the science-based experts. Ignorance kills and puts lives in jeopardy. Set a positive example for the generations to follow. Stay home - stay healthy. Stop being ignorant. Obey and live - data vs. date," one person posted.

Another Facebook user said the state needs to open back up.

"We cannot afford to be on this path. It's sad all of the jobs lost and some permanently. This curfew is ridiculous," she posted.

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“Besides being a loss of jobs and vital tax revenue, a shuttered business is a shattered dream. We can preserve those dreams and protect our citizens,” said spokesperson Caryn Abbott in a statement.

In a press conference held earlier this week, Hogan said he was beginning to craft plans for the state’s recovery and reopening. But the state's coronavirus case numbers continue to increase. He also ordered people to wear masks while shopping and using public transportation.

See more:

• Maryland Coronavirus: 425 Deaths; 11,572 Confirmed Cases
• Face Masks Required Statewide Plus 4 Benchmarks To MD Reopening
• MD Coronavirus: 4 Ways To Make Face Masks