In Pictures

In Pictures: Thousands rally in US against coronavirus curbs

Protests staged across the US calling for the lifting of stay-at-home orders imposed by state governors.

Health care workers stand in the street in counter-protest to hundreds of people who gathered at the State Capitol to demand the stay-at-home order be lifted in Denver, Colorado, U.S. April 19, 2020. — Healthcare workers stand in the street in counterprotest to hundreds of people who gathered at the state capitol to demand the stay-at-home order be lifted in Denver, Colorado, US. [Alyson McClaran/Reuters]

Thousands of people across the United States have protested against “stay-at-home” orders after President Donald Trump encouraged people to defy coronavirus lockdown imposed by state governors.

US President Donald Trump, who will seek re-election in the 2020 elections, has called for reopening of economic activities saying enough coronavirus testing has been done – a claim refuted by several governors belonging to both parties.

An estimated 2,500 people rallied at the Washington state capitol in Olympia to protest against Democratic Governor Jay Inslee’s stay-at-home order, defying a ban on gatherings of 50 or more people.

In Denver, hundreds of people gathered at the state capitol to demand the end to Colorado’s shutdown. As protesters clogged streets with cars, healthcare workers in scrubs and face masks stood at intersections in counterprotest.

Stay-at-home measures, which experts say are essential to slow the spread of the virus, have battered the US economy and more than 22 million Americans have filed for unemployment benefits in the past month.

Demonstrations to demand an end have previously erupted at a few spots in Texas, Wisconsin and the capitols of Ohio, Minnesota, Michigan and Virginia.

Trump has faced criticism for the handling of the pandemic, which has killed more than 40,000 people and infected nearly 750,000 in the US.

A person holds a sign referencing high unemployment as hundreds gather to protest against the state''s extended stay-at-home order to help slow the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) at the C — An estimated 2,500 people rallied at the Washington state capitol in Olympia to protest against Democratic Governor Jay Inslee's stay-at-home order. [Lindsey Wasson/Reuters]

A woman with a sign questioning coronavirus talks with another protester as hundreds gather to demonstrate against the state''s extended stay-at-home order to help slow the spread of the coronavirus di — Protesters at the capitol building in Olympia, Washington, defying a ban on gatherings of 50 or more people. [Lindsey Wasson/Reuters]

Hundreds of protesters against the state''s extended stay-at-home order to help slow the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) demonstrate at the Capitol building in Olympia, Washington, U.S. Ap — Stay-at-home measures, which experts say are essential to slow the spread of the virus, have battered the US economy. [Lindsey Wasson/Reuters]

Two men hold signs as they protest against the state''s extended stay-at-home order to help slow the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) as hundreds gather to demonstrate at the Capitol buildi — More than 22 million Americans have filed for unemployment benefits in the past month. [Lindsey Wasson/Reuters]

A man on a horse with a US flag rides past the Colorado State Capitol building during a demonstration to protest coronavirus stay-at-home orders at a "ReOpen Colorado" rally in Denver, Colorado, on Ap — A man on a horse with a US flag rides past the Colorado state capitol building during the demonstration to protest against stay-at-home orders. The US has by far the world's largest number of confirmed coronavirus cases. [Jason Connolly/AFP]

Residents protest stay-at-home orders involving the closing of beaches and walking paths during the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Encinitas, California, U.S., April 19, 2020. — People protest against stay-at-home orders involving the closing of beaches and walking paths in Encinitas, California. Coronavirus-related deaths in the US has exceeded 40,000. [Mike Blake/Reuters]