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'Selfish and proud,' declare US anti-lockdown protesters

Few of the demonstrators wore masks or respected social distancing. Many were Trump supporters, with several calling for his re-election in November. 

  (Agence France-Presse)
Harrisburg, US
Sat, May 16, 2020

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'Selfish and proud,' declare US anti-lockdown protesters Demonstrators rally outside the Pennsylvania Capitol Building to protest the continued closure of businesses due to the coronavirus pandemic on May 15, 2020 in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf has introduced a color tiered strategy to reopen the state with most areas not easing restrictions until June 4. (Getty Images/AFP/Mark Makela)

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few hundred people demonstrated Friday against the coronavirus lockdown in the US state of Pennsylvania, an AFP reporter said, with many carrying signs declaring themselves "Selfish and proud". 

The demonstration in the state capital Harrisburg was held despite plans already being in place for an initial easing of restrictions starting May 22 in most of the state.

Few of the demonstrators wore masks or respected social distancing. Many were Trump supporters, with several calling for his re-election in November. 

Those who do not wear masks are regularly called "selfish" in the US, where the debate over stay-at-home orders has become highly politicized.  

So far Pennsylvania, which says it has seen more than 60,000 infections and 4,300 deaths from COVID-19, has been less afflicted by the pandemic than the neighbouring states of New York and New Jersey.

"I've been affected. My wife has been affected. My friends have been affected. Everybody in Pennsylvania has been affected by this lockdown," said Matthew Bellis, one of the protest leaders.

"I went four to six weeks without any income for my own bills. And now I signed up for the mortgage protection stuff, but now my mortgage company is telling me they're giving me a foreclosure notice ... I don't know what this is about," said demonstrator Amy Graff.

Anti-lockdown demonstrations have increased in the US in the last month, especially in the states most contested for the presidential election.

They have been encouraged by President Donald Trump, who wants to revive the economy quickly. 

Pennsylvania is one of these states, along with Michigan and Wisconsin.

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