Washington (AFP)

When Illinois ordered the closure of non-essential businesses to curb the spread of the new coronavirus, Josh Ellis felt that it was threatening his freedom and the United States, so he called for a protest against containment.

"It immediately went viral," he told AFP, and this success prompted him to create a Facebook page, American Revolution 2.0, in early April to coordinate the organization of demonstrations.

The page was closed for violation of social network regulations, but its organization has grown and brings together opponents of containment, local militias and religious activists.

"Facebook is useful, but it's not our only tool," says Josh Ellis, 40, who also maintains Twitter and Telegram accounts, and a website.

He also ran the My Militia (My Militia) website, which describes itself as a "network of American patriots". It's "like a Google search for local militias" who swell the ranks of protesters, he said.

Protests and demonstrations have multiplied from Michigan to Texas, from California to Massachusetts.

And the pressure seems to have paid off: the 50 states have reopened part of their economic activities, even if restrictions are still in place.

But for Josh Ellis, it is still insufficient. He wants a total reopening "immediately" to resume his activity of interior renovation and small jobs.

Putting the economy to sleep has done a lot of harm, he says. His father-in-law's restaurant "practically shut down", and another close relative, a dentist, closed his office.

According to him, the restrictions are "extreme violations of the Constitution" and the governors who decreed them committed "treason".

Groups like those of Josh Ellis have been trying for two months on social networks, a democratic puzzle for platforms.

"Events that go against government guidelines on physical distance are not allowed on Facebook," a spokesperson told AFP. Twitter removes "harmful" content or messages contrary to the recommendations of health authorities.

- "Partisan spyglass" -

Cory Hedgepeth, founder of the Facebook group Reopen America, which has more than 30,000 members, has chosen a completely different approach than that of Josh Ellis.

"We want to give people, Liberals and Conservatives, who are suffering from job or income loss, a place to speak out," said this Pennsylvania resident of digital marketing.

"We are a platform where people exchange ideas and concepts," he says, stressing that he does not organize a demonstration. "But we support those who protest safely and with good intentions."

Cory Hedgepeth is concerned, however, about the dominance of Facebook, which is "disturbing". The social network should "help us raise awareness of the plight of American workers," he said.

Divisions over a reopening of the economy while the pandemic is not yet under control remain strong in the United States, even within the government.

President Donald Trump is pressing for economic recovery, calling on democratic governors to "liberate" their state, in defiance of the warnings of his scientific advisers.

The chief expert of the American government on the pandemic, Anthony Fauci, warned against the appearance of new centers of uncontrollable contagion and of a "second wave" of contamination if the deconfinement were precipitated.

For political scientist Darrell West, the protest comes from "a fairly small group of people unhappy to lose their individual freedoms," he told AFP.

"They see the Covid-19 through their partisan telescope" and "since Mr. Trump attacks the experts, they find it difficult to trust the scientists".

But for Josh Ellis, to say that an early reopening could cause unnecessary deaths is to say that "Americans are stupid and incapable" of taking care of their health.

"Our society has to adapt to new conditions and containment has actually delayed this for several months," he said.

He also organizes new events on Monday.

© 2020 AFP