Some 200 people gathered at midday on Saturday outside Parliament in the town of Concord, New Hampshire, in cold rain. Protesters protested containment measures in this state relatively unaffected by the coronavirus.
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"The numbers lie", or "Reopen the NH", said certain signs held up by the demonstrators, who demand that this state of 1.3 million inhabitants end sooner than expected the containment decree in place until 4 may. Others took up the slogan of this state, "Live free or die", in the middle of American flags. Among the protesters were armed men and hoods.
1,287 cases and 37 deaths
"People are quite ready to do the right thing," but "the numbers do not justify the draconian containment measures we have in New Hampshire," one of the officials told AFP by telephone. protesters, Skip Murphy, 63. Only the southeastern part of this state, closest to the large urban area of Boston, has a high infection rate, while the rest of the state, less affected, should not be subject to the same restrictions, according to him. New Hampshire had recorded Friday morning 1,287 confirmed cases and 37 deaths from the coronavirus.
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"People are starting to wonder, 'We've been doing this [containment] for a while, we've given up what we consider essential freedoms," "says Skip Murphy. "This is why we now see people all over the country saying, 'We will do what we have to do, but at the same time, we are supposed to be in a free country'. When this principle is broken, people say, 'Wait, something is wrong'. "
Encouraged by Donald Trump
Such protests against containment have mushroomed in recent days in the United States, appearing to be encouraged by President Donald Trump in some states. The latter called Friday in a series of tweets to "liberate" three states, Michigan, Minnesota, Virginia, whose governors are Democrats.
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The largest demonstration to date took place on Wednesday in the capital, Michigan, Lansing, where some 3,000 people demonstrated against the confinement of Democratic Governor Gretchen Whitmer. Other protests were scheduled for Saturday, including Austin, Texas, or Annapolis, Maryland.
Don Trump himself, Skip Murphy said his motivations were not partisan, pointing out that New Hampshire governor Chris Sununu was Republican.