Posted on 05/13/2020 12:49:56 PM PDT by lightman
Thunderstorms are in the forecast for Harrisburg on Friday, but a storm of another sort will hit the state Capitol at noon.
For the second time in less than a month, ReOpen PA and other groups from in and outside Pennsylvania that oppose Gov. Tom Wolf’s virtual lockdown of the state over the coronavirus pandemic will rally on and around the Capitol grounds.
It is part of a nationwide phenomenon, a backlash against virus-related business shutdowns and stay-at-home orders that locally is receiving more than tacit support from elected officials, including county commissioners and law enforcement leaders, usually of a Republican bent.
An April 20 rally at the Capitol drew more than 1,000 people. Matt Bellis, founder of ReOpen PA, said Wednesday that he hopes as many as 10,000 to 15,000 people show up for Round 2.
“We’ve seen the power that the governor has taken on and we need to confront that power,” Bellis said.
As with the April rally, participants will flock to the Capitol steps and drive around the Capitol Complex honking their horns, he said. That event drew not only home-grown protesters, but also out-of-staters and gun rights activists.
The Capitol is largely deserted because of the COVID-19 lockdown. Those expected to attend Friday’s rally will be violating Wolf’s prohibition against large public gatherings, a measure aimed at curbing the spread of the virus.
Bellis said speakers for the event include state Sen. Doug Mastriano, R-Franklin County, who has called for the resignation of state Health Secretary Rachel Levine. Also on tap to speak are state Rep. Russ Diamond, an Annvile Republican, Danny DeVito, a GOP candidate for the state House, and attorney Marc Scaringi, a regular columnist for PennLive and The Patriot-News.
“Our message is very reasonable,” Bellis said. “What we want (Wolf) to do is just work with our duly elected representatives” on reopening the state for business.
Although there have been calls for Wolf’s impeachment, Bellis said ReOpen Pa is “not officially” supporting any such move.
His group, founded via social media in April, now boasts about 90,000 members on Facebook.
As of Tuesday, Pennsylvania had logged 57,991 confirmed and probable cases of COVID-19 and at least 3,806 reported deaths from the virus.
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I had family at the last protest. They say there were way more than 1000 there.
Couple weeks ago, 250 vehicles left Frederick county to go through Annapolis on their way to Salisbury for a “Reopen Maryland” protest.
Along the way, many more vehicles saw what was going on and joined the group until it was huge.
Emperor Hogan laughed off the protest, saying it was just a “handful of protesters”.
If they start dancing the boogaloo the authorities will round them up.
Danny DeVito, the PA House candidate mentioned in this article, is not Danny DeVito the actor. The actor is from New Jersey and is a typical Hollywood Libtard.
I’ve been to other protests of a conservative nature at the Capitol and Pennlive either ignored it or under report the crowd. They’re a bunch of progressives there - no wonder they are barely staying afloat.
There’s a protest in Annapolis, MD Friday afternoon too. I’ll be there.
One of those vehicles was mine. Check reopenmaryland at Facebook
Let my people go!!
I am a member there.
/Cold Djinn
My county (Carbon) has 205 cases and 17 deaths (out of somewhere around 70,000 people) ... and we’re locked down.
Bump
These protests are not enough.
/edit
Keep protesting, and when you get home, open your place of business.
It’s called SELF-DETERMINATION!!!!
If the Leftist don't have to abide by COVID rules at protest neither do we.
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