Protesters have taken to the streets in states across the US, demanding that governors reopen economies shut by the coronavirus pandemic.
Rallies in Arizona, Colorado, Montana and Washington state were expected yesterday, following earlier protests in half a dozen states.
Agitation for easing restrictions has grown, despite the risk of a Covid-19 resurgence posed by reopening too soon.
US President Donald Trump has signaled support for the protests.
The US is the epicenter of the Covid-19 crisis, with over 735,000 cases and some 40,000 deaths – but signs have emerged that it is reaching the apex of the outbreak and that infection rates are slowing in some states.
Governors in several states have begun discussions to plan reopening amid signs of the slowdown, but other regions remain under strict lockdown.
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo announced this week that the state would extend its stay home measures until 15 May. Speaking at his daily virus briefing yesterday, Mr Cuomo urged caution to residents, beset with “cabin fever” and desperate for their state to reopen.
Mr Trump, a Republican, appeared to endorse protests against strict lockdown measures, saying on Friday that orders in place in Minnesota, Michigan and Virginia were “too tough”.
