Thousands of protesters flock to Huntington Beach following state-ordered OC beach closures

[turbinetree]

Source: Orange County Register

By SEAN EMERY | [e-mail], SCOTT SCHWEBKE | [e-mail] and JEONG PARK | [e-mail] | Orange County Register
PUBLISHED: May 1, 2020 at 11:58 a.m. | UPDATED: May 1, 2020 at 4:12 p.m.

Large crowds opposing the state’s coronavirus stay-at-home mandate took to the streets of downtown Huntington Beach on Friday, a day after the governor closed Orange County beaches and drew frustration and criticism from some residents and city leaders.

Protesters gathered near the Huntington Beach pier shortly before noon, with the crowd eventually swelling to some 2,500-3,000 people, according to Huntington Beach police Chief Robert Handy. The tightly packed crowd, with most people not wearing protective masks, repeatedly chanted “U.S.A.” as they waited for the demonstration to begin.

The protesters held signs proclaiming, “All jobs are essential,” “My freedom is essential,” and “Newsom is not essential,” as well as “Open our businesses, stand up for our rights as Americans” and “The shutdown is killing us, open our state now.”

A stream of cars, many adorned with American flags, honked in support. Officers, some on horseback, pushed the crowd back as some protesters spilled into traffic lanes on Pacific Coast Highway.

Read more: https://www.ocregister.com/2020/05/01/thousands-of-protesters-flock-to-huntington-beach-following-state-ordered-oc-beach-closures/

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[Iliyah]

1. Not the crowd size I saw . . .

[TheCowsCameHome]

2. We are so screwn.

Idiots like this have no clue what's going on in the real world.

[bluestarone]

3. We'll find out one day who the fuck is sending them out there

Hope they ALL get sick!

[Upthevibe]

20. bluestarone...

I think we've all heard rumors (I don't know if they're true) that there are some right-wingers organizing some of these (at least in Michigan - home of Betsy DeVos & Eric Prince) protests. It wouldn't surprise me at all.....

[C Moon]

4. "We want to go to the beach, dudes! To hell with the sick and elderly!"

A bunch of selfish assholes. They should all be hauled away to jail.

[CottonBear]

5. Oh no! This is really bad! Terrifying!

I’m l in a blue Georgia town on lockdown which is surrounded by.red counties, but nothing like this has happened here yet.

Stay safe California. I have family there.

[KWR65]

6. It's s-u-i-c-i-d-e.

[EarthFirst]

7. Fools.

We’re on a collision course with wasting the measures we took the past month.

[BlueIdaho]

8. Lemmings...

Ok everybody - off the cliff, NOW!

[Buckeye_Democrat]

9. There's idiots everywhere.

I used to research better places for me to live, but I’ve become resigned to the idea that I’ll never escape the stupid.

[OneCrazyDiamond]

10. After what happened in MI

I kinda figured that would happen. Bans seldom work, but they often bring about dangerous situations.

Gov Newsom said he would shut all beaches if people didn't respect the order. I wonder if he will just target Newport. I know my county's not interested in closing our beaches, and is asking out-a-towners to stay out.

[abakan]

11. Well there will be fewer soon...

Karma is a bitch and she's pissed off. It is my sincere hope they all get exactly what the deserve.

[Rebl2]

17. I'll say

it. I hope they get “it”

[abakan]

18. LOL

I thought I said that. If not, may they all get it soon.

[DinahMoeHum]

12. Those assholes will scream even louder if THEY. . .

. . .have to collect and empty the bedpans at the hospitals.




#newrostrong

[DanieRains]

13. Run Facial Recognition Software And Make Them Pay Cash For Their Hospitalization

Send them letters if they get sick don't bother calling anyone.

[Mr.Bill]

14. These people seem to know something we don't.

It seems placing large American flags on vehicles can prevent the virus from infecting you.

[vapor2]

15. There must be consequences for these covidiots

along with those who stormed the Michigan capitol yesterday. These morons simply refuse to comply and are so self centered (just like their king)

[TeamPooka]

16. hundreds maybe but not thousands in those pictures

[noneof_theabove]

19. time to release the

anti-MAGAT Dispersal Unit

[link:https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/photo/attack-chopper-with-missiles-royalty-free-image/94324730|]

When this bad boy bears down on them the will definitely crap their titty-whities running for cover.

[roamer65]

25. I like how u think.

[J_William_Ryan]

21. Unsurprisingly,

Orange County is overwhelmingly Republican.

An enclave of rightwing ignorance, stupidity, and hate.

[Magoo48]

23. Not so any longer. We elected Katie Porter. She is a marvel.

[JI7]

24. not anymore

[Magoo48]

22. There were not thousands, and the Register is a right wing rag.

[Doc_Technical]

26. Tase them, bro

[Jake Stern]

27. If I were a judge overseeing the cases of these assholes

I'd sentence each of them to community service, part of the time working at ER admissions and the other digging graves of COVID-19 victims and filling them back in the old fashioned way -by hand. With proper PPE, of course.

After all conservatives say hard work builds character when it comes to people seeking assistance like help with putting food on the table or getting healthcare so it should do the same when Trumpian dickheads break the law.

[R B Garr]

28. Huntington Beach was the home of the Skinheads back in the day.

They've been dispersed a lot over the last ten years or so, but that was their hub, so this is no surprise.

OC is also is/was a deep Republican county, at least until Hillary turned it blue in 2016, so it was no surprise to see that Newport Beach's police chief made public an aerial photo of Newport Beach last weekend that claims to dispute that the beach was that crowded. I'm sure this is just their war on a Democratic governor, Gavin Newsome.