People gathered in front of the Ohio state capitol to protest the way the state has handled the coronavirus pandemic.
Currently, Ohio is under a “Shelter-at-Home” order until May 1, which it has been under since March 23.
Around 100 people came to Ohio’s capital Columbus Thursday to protest, according to Tom Bosco, an ABC6 journalist. On their way to the building, Bosco said people were chanting “Open Ohio.”
While I’m inside, protestors outside. About 100 marched past @OhioStatehouse, chanting “Open Ohio.” Signs reading “Quarantine Worse Than Coronavirus.” Followed by a guy yelling into megaphone about scripture. Not sure if it’s 1 protest or 2. pic.twitter.com/3NYWitgl3E
— Tom Bosco (@tomwsyx6) April 9, 2020
While at the capitol, people called for Ohio Department of Health (ODH) Director Amy Acton to resign.
Protesters said, “O-H-I-O, Acton has got to go,” and followed this chant up by asking the ODH director to show them their sources.
“Cite your sources, Show us the data,” the crowd yelled repeatedly.
People at the protest also told Gov. DeWine to open back up the state’s economy.
Since the first COVID-19 case came to Ohio, the governor has taken aggressive measures by closing down schools, shutting down many businesses and delaying the state’s primary.
“Quarantine worse than the virus,” people screamed.
The protesters told state legislators that they work for them. When in front of the capitol building’s stairs, the crowd of people said, “No paycheck for us, no paycheck for you.”
“No more guessing open Ohio now,” they yelled.
Ohio’s economy has been hurting over the last three weeks as many industries have been shut down to prevent the stop of the coronavirus. To illustrate, the Buckeye State has seen 694,779 unemployment benefit claims the last three weeks, which is the sixth most for an American state during this span, PBS reported.
During Thursday’s press conference, Acton tried to ease Ohioan’s concerns.
“@DrAmyActon:This is a hard mountain to climb. It is an arduous climb up this mountain and we have done this together. But the decent is challenging too,” DeWine tweeted. “Every move we’re making is based on the best science, and we will not leave you as we get you through this journey.”
“The journey is like a mountain range. We’re reaching a peak. We’ll be seeing more deaths. We will escort you carefully to recovery, but we must do it responsibly. #InThisTogetherOhio #StayHomeOhio”
The journey is like a mountain range. We're reaching a peak. We'll be seeing more deaths. We will escort you carefully to recovery, but we must do it responsibly. #InThisTogetherOhio #StayHomeOhio
— Governor Mike DeWine (@GovMikeDeWine) April 9, 2020
As of Thursday, Ohio has 5,512 confirmed coronavirus cases and 213 deaths according to ODH numbers.
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Zachery Schmidt is the digital editor of Star News Digital Media. If you have any tips, email Zachery at [email protected].
Photo “Protesters at Ohio Capitol” by Team Cunningham.
IF your stupid enough to throw aside the recommendations of real health profesionals ,then I say give the morons what their asking for.Just don’t sneeze my way!!
[…] Ohio Protest at Capitol April 10, 2020. […]
Josh and Kathy, great! And please, when your family member needs treatment due to infection from you, just read them the Constitution. That will surely cure them. As a 60 year old Ohio resident, I am thrilled that I have not been hospitalized or died. But then, I actually believe in science.
I have been saying this since day one. I thought I was the only one pissed off. We have had many pandemics and no one has taken our constitutional rights. away. I even wrote to the NH Governor and told him to change the State Motto because they do not deserve it “Live Free or Die” Death is not the worst of evils, the government controlling your everyday life is the worst evil
I couldn’t agree with you more, Kathy. The absurdities surrounding how this is all being handled are endless and the violations to the Constitution and the Bill of Rights are inexcusable. We are human beings, not cattle.
DeWine & Acton are drunk with power; heck, the entire Executive & Legislative branches are drunk with power. Generations of blood, sweat and tears poured into Ohio small businesses have been callously discarded overnight by edicts from unelected, unaccountable and WILDLY inaccurate health czars no less, who’ve been on the public dole their entire lives, never having to make payroll, [genuinely] compete, let alone innovate. The effects of this unprecedented, unconstitutional lockdown will cost more lives than the virus. We’ve already voted with our feet, and are urging others to do the same. Just as one group says “if you don’t like abortion, don’t get one,” then “if you don’t want to leave your house, don’t.” We know how to take care of ourselves and the at-risk among us, unless of course government takes away our ability to take care of them financially.