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Protesters Circle Downtown Annapolis to Demand State’s Reopening

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A scene from Saturday’s protest in Annapolis. Photo special to Maryland Matters

Honking horns by drivers circling State Circle in Annapolis on Saturday drove home the point that some Marylanders disagree with continuing Gov. Lawrence J. Hogan’s stay-at-home order due to COVID-19. The protest from noon to 2 p.m. was dubbed Operation Gridlock Annapolis and organized by ReOpen Maryland with the demand that the governor reopen the state by May 1.

Police reported no problems during the protest. Hogan has not responded to the event on his social media feeds.

The protesters made their point with signs that said, “We are all essential, reopen MD,” “Open up our churches, we need Communion,” and “Freedom over fear.” Some carried copies of the U.S. Constitution, others waved Trump 2020 or American flags.

The group describes itself on its Facebook page as “Maryland citizens concerned about the impact of mass shutdowns and school closures in response to COVID-19. We are committed to peaceful advocacy for public health measures that respect Marylanders’ civil rights, economic well-being and educational access. We support immediate, responsible reopening of our state’s business, educational and religious institutions.”

Another car on Church Circle in Annapolis Saturday. Photo special to Maryland Matters.

While the group advised protesters to remain in their cars and limit themselves to driving around downtown Annapolis, some appeared on the streets. They were joined by Robin Ficker, a former state delegate and perennial Republican candidate who appears to be running for governor in 2022.
On April 16, the group created a petition for people to sign and show support for reopening the state. According to the Change.org petition, the group had about 2,000 signatures on Saturday.
The Maryland Health Department on Saturday reported 38 more coronavirus deaths in the state and 736 new cases, bringing the state’s death toll to 463 and the total number of cases to 12,308.
Maryland reported its first three coronavirus cases on March 5. As of Saturday morning, 53,062 people have tested negative for the disease, 2,757 have been hospitalized, and 771 have been released from isolation.
According to projection data updated Friday released by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, Maryland is a day away from reaching its peak in daily COVID-19 deaths. The IHME model projected Sunday as the peak for the state, and expects 46 coronavirus deaths on Monday. The organization uses overall trends to identify the peak date, rather than the single highest reported number.

Some people have spoken out against the initiative on the group’s Facebook page.

“Can’t have a economy, if your work force is dead…” wrote one commenter.

A Hogan supporter said, “OUR Governor is doing a great job. This Annapolis stunt is just a stunt.”

“Besides being a loss of jobs and vital tax revenue, a shuttered business is a shattered dream. We can preserve those dreams and protect our citizens,” said ReOpen Maryland spokesperson Caryn Abbott in a statement.

In a news conference Friday, Hogan said he was beginning to craft plans for the state’s recovery and reopening. But the state’s coronavirus case numbers continue to increase. He also ordered people to wear masks while shopping and using public transportation.

Other demonstrations calling for states to reopen were slated to take place over the weekend in Texas, Wisconsin, Idaho and Pennsylvania — after rallies earlier in the week in Michigan, Ohio and Virginia.

To see the story by Deb Belt as it originally appeared on the website of our news partner, Patch.com, click here. Josh Kurtz of Maryland Matters contributed to this report.

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Protesters Circle Downtown Annapolis to Demand State’s Reopening