Coronavirus: Crowd of 1500 storms capital in latest US protest

Around 1500 Trump supporters ignored social distancing to stage the latest mass protest in Wisconsin’s capital against lockdown measures.

Around 1500 Trump supporters ignored social distancing to stage the latest protest in the United States against lockdown measures.

The demonstrations by right-wing groups against measures to contain the coronavirus, which have risen up around the country, came to Wisconsin’s capital, Madison, on Friday.

Crowds gathered on the steps of the state’s Capitol Building to protest the Democratic governor Tony Evers’ stay-home order.

With the building closed, the protesters, some bearing placards supporting President Donald Trump and wearing MAGA (Make America Great Again) hats, stood in chilly weather waving American flags or wearing them as masks and capes.

Many carried signs saying “Reopen Wisconsin” or criticising the stay-home order Governor Evers issued that has closed most non-essential businesses until May 26.

Police estimated the crowd in Madison was about 1500 people, but made no arrests.

Some protesters wore masks or bandannas in accordance with recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Many did not.

People protest against the coronavirus shutdown in front of the State Capitol in Madison, Wisconsin. Picture: Kamil Krzaczynski

A car with placards damning the coronavirus shutdown in Madison, Wisconsin on Friday. Picture: Kamil Krzaczynski

Some healthcare workers staged a small counter-protest, with one woman holding a sign saying: “Please go home.”

The event was expected to be among the biggest of the protests that have popped up around the US in recent days.

“We think there’s been a major overstep in our rights by our governor,” said Paris Procopis, one of the protesters.

“We’re here to send Governor Evers a message. The solution is going to be more harmful than the virus itself.”

By comparison, in the state of Georgia, gyms, hair salons and tattoo parlours have been given the green light to reopen even as the US national coronavirus death toll soared past 50,000.

A man holds a sign demanding the Wisconsin governor’s removal during a protest on Friday in Madison. Picture: Kamil Krzaczynski

People hold signs demanding business reopen in Wisconsin’s capital Madison on Friday. Picture: Kamil Krzaczynski