Hundreds Protest against Lockdown in Wisconsin as Coronavirus Cases Rise (+Video)

The reopening of shuttered businesses in states across the United States has become a political hot-button issue as the shutdowns to curb the spread of the virus have hammered the US economy.

Protesters in several states over the last couple of weeks have demanded a rollback on orders that have closed businesses and other activities deemed to be non essential.

Many of the protesters wore hats supporting the US President Donald Trump, waved American flags and carried “Go Back To Work” and “Open Wis. Now” signs, as they called for the first-term governor to end the state’s state-at-home order in effect until May 26. Wisconsin is expected to be a critical state in November’s presidential election as Trump seeks a second term.

“Don’t let the Communist take over of our country ... stand strong, be united and stand tall and proud for America,” said a protester who voiced his displeasure through a bullhorn, Reuters reported.

Wisconsin Capitol Police said about 1,500 people attended the gathering and there were no arrests and no citations issued.

About a third of the protesters wore face masks, including a group of men brandishing assault rifles.

There was also a quiet counter-protest - a woman standing under a tree wearing a face mask, a bottle of hand sanitizer on her hip, holding a sign that said, “Please Go Home.”

The protests have angered governors trying to contain coronavirus outbreaks in their states through social distancing measures largely ignored by the demonstrators.

The coronavirus death toll topped 50,000 on Friday, as Wisconsin officials reported 304 new cases of COVID-19, the illness caused by the highly contagious virus. That was the largest one-day increase in Wisconsin since the outbreak began.