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| Coronavirus: ‘Liberate’ states protesting against lockdown, says Trump | |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| President Donald Trump has appeared to endorse protests against stringent lockdown measures in several states. | |
| In a series of tweets, he said: "LIBERATE MINNESOTA", "LIBERATE MICHIGAN" and then "LIBERATE VIRGINIA". | |
| Protesters say the severe economic restrictions are hurting citizens, but health officials warn lifting them could spread infection. | Protesters say the severe economic restrictions are hurting citizens, but health officials warn lifting them could spread infection. |
| The US saw its highly daily death toll on Thursday, recording 4,591 deaths in 24 hours. | |
| It has the highest number of Covid-19 cases in the world, with over 672,200 confirmed. There have been over 33,000 deaths due to the virus. | |
| Demonstrations calling on authorities to end the shutdown have occurred in Michigan, Ohio, North Carolina, Minnesota, Utah, Virginia and Kentucky. | |
| The states Mr Trump referenced in Friday's tweets are all led by Democrats, despite Ohio and Utah having Republican governors. | |
| More demonstrations are planned, including in Wisconsin, Oregon, Idaho and Texas. | |
| The president's apparent support comes a day after his administration unveiled new guidance for re-opening state economies. | The president's apparent support comes a day after his administration unveiled new guidance for re-opening state economies. |
| What does federal guidance say? | |
| That guidance recommends three phases of slowly re-opening businesses and social life, with each phase lasting a minimum of 14 days. | That guidance recommends three phases of slowly re-opening businesses and social life, with each phase lasting a minimum of 14 days. |
| It includes some recommendations across all three phases including good personal hygiene and employers developing policies to ensure social distancing, testing and contact tracing. | It includes some recommendations across all three phases including good personal hygiene and employers developing policies to ensure social distancing, testing and contact tracing. |
| On Thursday, Mr Trump said that reopening the US economy would be done "one careful step at a time" but he called on state governors to move "very, very quickly, depending on what they want to do". | On Thursday, Mr Trump said that reopening the US economy would be done "one careful step at a time" but he called on state governors to move "very, very quickly, depending on what they want to do". |
| Upping the pressure - and political risk | Upping the pressure - and political risk |
| On Friday morning Donald Trump fired off a series of tweets calling for the "liberation" of three states with Democratic governors, as though they were enemy-controlled territory. | On Friday morning Donald Trump fired off a series of tweets calling for the "liberation" of three states with Democratic governors, as though they were enemy-controlled territory. |
| The message seems apparent. | The message seems apparent. |
| The governor of one, Michigan's Gretchen Whitmer, recently was the target of a mass protest at the state capital against her sweeping lock-down orders. A mixed crowd of conservatives, white nationalists and anti-government militias waved Confederate and pro-Trump flags, and signs accusing Whitmer of dictatorial overreach. | The governor of one, Michigan's Gretchen Whitmer, recently was the target of a mass protest at the state capital against her sweeping lock-down orders. A mixed crowd of conservatives, white nationalists and anti-government militias waved Confederate and pro-Trump flags, and signs accusing Whitmer of dictatorial overreach. |
| Another of the states, Virginia, had its own capital protests earlier in the year from gun-rights activists. | Another of the states, Virginia, had its own capital protests earlier in the year from gun-rights activists. |
| The president's social media fusillade suggests his goal is to reward - or encourage - such shows of force from his political base, as opinion polls indicate Trump's approval rating is sagging after a boost during the early weeks of the outbreak. | The president's social media fusillade suggests his goal is to reward - or encourage - such shows of force from his political base, as opinion polls indicate Trump's approval rating is sagging after a boost during the early weeks of the outbreak. |
| Trump followed those incendiary tweets by criticising New York's Andrew Cuomo, another Democrat, for mishandling the pandemic and spending too much time "complaining". | Trump followed those incendiary tweets by criticising New York's Andrew Cuomo, another Democrat, for mishandling the pandemic and spending too much time "complaining". |
| Just a day after Trump reportedly told governors in a conference call they would "call the shots" on when to begin easing restrictions, it appears the president wants to up the pressure - and the political risk - for Democrats by other means at his disposal. | Just a day after Trump reportedly told governors in a conference call they would "call the shots" on when to begin easing restrictions, it appears the president wants to up the pressure - and the political risk - for Democrats by other means at his disposal. |
| Trump has benefitted in the past from a finely tuned sense of the sentiments - and resentments - of his supporters. Friday morning could be an indication that he's positioning himself to again stand in their midst. | |
| Why are people protesting? | Why are people protesting? |
| Protesters say stringent restrictions on movement and businesses are an overreaction to the outbreak. | Protesters say stringent restrictions on movement and businesses are an overreaction to the outbreak. |
| Organisers of the Liberate Minnesota protest scheduled to occur later on Friday wrote on Facebook: "It is not the governor's place to restrict free movement of Minnesota citizens!" | Organisers of the Liberate Minnesota protest scheduled to occur later on Friday wrote on Facebook: "It is not the governor's place to restrict free movement of Minnesota citizens!" |
| "President Trump has been very clear that we must get America back to work very quickly or the 'cure' to this terrible disease may be the worse option!" | "President Trump has been very clear that we must get America back to work very quickly or the 'cure' to this terrible disease may be the worse option!" |
| The group added that the state's economy "will be dealt a death blow" if restrictions continue. | The group added that the state's economy "will be dealt a death blow" if restrictions continue. |
| The event now has over 600 attendees marked on Facebook and some 2,800 more users interested in the event. | The event now has over 600 attendees marked on Facebook and some 2,800 more users interested in the event. |
| Earlier this week, in Michigan, thousands of protesting workers blocked roads, demanding the state reopen after Governor Gretchen Whitmer extended stay-at-home restrictions. | Earlier this week, in Michigan, thousands of protesting workers blocked roads, demanding the state reopen after Governor Gretchen Whitmer extended stay-at-home restrictions. |
| Governor Whitmer is also facing federal lawsuits against her orders shuttering non-essential businesses and limiting travel. | Governor Whitmer is also facing federal lawsuits against her orders shuttering non-essential businesses and limiting travel. |
| Attorney David Helm, who represents four residents in the lawsuit, told Fox 2 Detroit on Wednesday the governor's rules were "taking a sledge hammer to an ant". | Attorney David Helm, who represents four residents in the lawsuit, told Fox 2 Detroit on Wednesday the governor's rules were "taking a sledge hammer to an ant". |
| Mr Helm said the lockdown measures were infringing on people's constitutional rights. | Mr Helm said the lockdown measures were infringing on people's constitutional rights. |