The whiteness of anti-lockdown protests - 2020-04-25

The whiteness of anti-lockdown protests April 25, 2020, Maia Niguel Hoskin, Vox

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Last weekend, thousands gathered in Washington, Michigan, Texas, Maryland, and California to protest lockdown orders resulting from the coronavirus pandemic. Some marched with rifles draped across their backs and handguns resting on their hips, while others shared conspiracy theories about Bill Gates and his involvement with the Covid-19 vaccine.

Even in larger, less-rural cities in California, groups waved "Trump 2020" flags and marched the streets with signs that read, "No Liberty. No Life." And these protests only seem to be picking up steam: On Friday, thousands stormed the Wisconsin State Capitol, carrying flags and wearing Tea Party regalia.

But what has been most glaringly obvious about these protests isn't the far-right theatrics. It's that almost everyone marching to end stay-at-home orders is white. And if they do return to "regular life" and refuse to distance themselves, their overt disregard will impact the population most vulnerable to the virus — black people.

Wikipedia cite:

{{cite news | first = Maia Niguel | last = Hoskin | title = The whiteness of anti-lockdown protests | url = https://www.vox.com/first-person/2020/4/25/21234774/coronavirus-covid-19-protest-anti-lockdown | work = Vox | date = April 25, 2020 | accessdate = April 27, 2020 }}