Health
Thousands of beachgoers rush to California shores to protest shutdown
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:
- Protesters by the thousands flocked to California beaches demanding to reopen beaches and other businesses.
- California Gov. Gavin Newsom prompted the general public to stay home and practice social distancing, noting that coronavirus won’t go away just because it’s summer.
- City councils filed motions against lockdown orders, but a judge denied the appeal.
Following a restrictive shut down of Orange County beaches, thousands of people rushed into Huntington Beach to demonstrate against COVID-19 lockdowns.
Enraged by the mandatory shutdowns, the protesters disobeyed social distancing guidelines and called for the reopening of the beaches.
The Associated Press reported that on Friday, groups of people stormed the streets, most didn’t wear any face masks, congesting a mile of traffic along the Pacific Coast Highway. They brought signs that demand the reopening of beaches as well as all other businesses.
Orange County was the only district in the region where resorts remained operational, as northern and southern counties had earlier closed down public places.
On Monday, California Governor Gavin Newsom reminded the public that coronavirus doesn’t rest and won’t go away despite sunny weather.
The governor announced the closure of Orange County beaches on Thursday, noting that most Californians have observed stay-at-home measures and social distancing recommendations, but acknowledged alarming issues had been raised on some coastlines.
On Friday, city councils from Newport Beach, Dana Point, and Huntington Beach filed petitions to reconsider the closures, but a judge denied the motion.
Huntington Beach city attorney Michael Gates said that they wouldn’t just accept everything handed down by the governor, and noted that they are demanding to reopen under the basis of constitutional rights.
Gates further said that they are fighting for the local officials who did an efficient job in curbing the spread of coronavirus, and the residents of Huntington Beach as well.
Protestor Tami Avants told CBS Los Angeles, that they believe everyone’s essential, while Robin Itzler, resident of Cypress, demands the lockdown should be lifted for the economy.
Demonstrators also mirror the sentiment of Huntington Beach Mayor Lyn Semeta, commenting that the town’s beaches are essential to its residents.
Meanwhile, the outlet also reported that marchers assembled in Sacramento’s state Capitol to petition a back to work order, waving placards where “Defend Freedom” was written.
Newsom stressed on Thursday that the shutting of facilities are not to supersede the right of anyone to visit the beach, but rather a decision so people will be safe.
California recorded no less than 50,000 coronavirus cases as of Saturday morning in California, and out of this total, many 24,000 infected people are from Los Angeles County. Â
According to California’s health department, there are 2,073 coronavirus-related deaths in the state.
Source: CBS News
