Cape Business Owners Hold 'Boston Tea Party' To Reopen Economy

SOUTH YARMOUTH, MA — Business owners from across Cape Cod gathered at Smugglers Beach Thursday and held their own "Boston Tea Party" as a protest to Gov. Charlie Baker's shutdown of many local businesses amid the coronavirus pandemic.

The demonstration involved protestors throwing three large crates into the Bass River, the Cape Cod Times reported. The first crate was labeled "tea" to signify defiance, the second read "Massachusetts economy" and the third "Cape Cod economy." Protestors said both economies would soon be "in the drink" if businesses were not allowed to reopen.

"You know, politicians on all levels work for us, and we have to shake them up," Gerry Manning, the owner of Captain Parker's Pub in West Yarmouth told the Cape Cod Times. "Did we flatten the curve? You bet we did. We still have to be very careful, but we have to open the economy."

The second part of phase two of the state's reopening plan begins Monday and will see the return of indoor dining and personal services such as nail salons, tattoo parlors and some personal training. Baker also revealed retail dressing rooms will reopen (by appointment only) and offices are opening back to 50 percent capacity.

But phase three, which allows casinos, fitness centers, museums and more to reopen, was pushed back until at least July 6. Baker said the state wants two weeks of indoor dining data before moving to phase three.

Baker has said the speed at which phases will roll out depends on public health data, with at least three weeks between phases. The earliest phase three would have started was June 29.