About 2,000 People Gather At Pennsylvania Capitol For Anti-Shutdown Protest
HARRISBURG (AP) -- As many as 2,000 people gathered at the Capitol for another anti-shutdown protest on Friday, as speakers and attendees lambasted Gov. Tom Wolf for saying it was "cowardly" for counties to go against his shutdown orders.
Many carried Pres. Donald Trump signs and wore Trump paraphernalia, while an RV festooned with Trump banners blared his speeches over a speaker.
Capitol Police estimated the crowd at 1,750 to 2,000, few of whom wore masks. Many of the signs were directed at Wolf and Health Secretary Rachel Levine, including ones calling for Wolf's impeachment and Levine's firing.
strong>RELATED STORIES:
- Coronavirus In Pennsylvania: Vice President Mike Pence Says Gov. Tom Wolf Has The Authority To Decide When The State Reopens
- 'Understand The Consequences': Pa. Gov. Wolf Issues Stern Warning To Businesses Defying Coronavirus Shutdown Order
- Armstrong Co. Will Not Issue Citations To Open Businesses That Gov. Tom Wolf Has Ordered To Stay Closed In The 'Yellow' Phase
- Beaver Co. Not Moving To 'Yellow' Phase, DA Says Businesses That Open In Defiance Of Gov. Wolf's Shutdown Order Won't Be Prosecuted
- Gov. Tom Wolf Announces 13 Western Pa. Counties Moving Into Coronavirus 'Yellow Phase,' Including Pittsburgh Metro Area
- Coronavirus In Greene County: District Attorney Says He Will Not Prosecute Business Owners Who Reopen In Defiance Of Gov. Wolf's Shutdown Order
- Coronavirus In Pennsylvania: 4 Southwestern Counties In The 'Red' File Lawsuit Against Gov. Wolf, Saying Business Shutdown Violates Constitutional Rights
One attendee, Barry Sheeder of Chambersburg, said his wife's child care center is on the verge of going out of business because of the shutdown.
It can only care for the children of essential workers, such as emergency responders.
Meanwhile, Josh Hogan, who started a Facebook page called ReOpen Bucks County, said he is seeing the shutdown destroy many small businesses, from karate studios to restaurants, and it is long past to let businesses reopen.
More information on the Coronavirus pandemic:
- CDC Coronavirus Information
- CDC Global Map of Confirmed COVID-19 Cases
- Pennsylvania Department of Health Information
- Pennsylvania County-By-County Map
- Allegheny County Health Department Information
(Copyright 2020 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.)