Protesters calling for end to coronavirus lockdown have tense standoff with Chicago cops despite gov’s vow to open state

HUNDREDS of protesters in Illinois called for an end the state's lockdown despite Gov J.B. Pritzker vowing to reopen businesses by the end of the month.

Demonstrators gathered outside the Thompson Center and the State Capitol Building on Saturday as they called on Pritzker to end his executive stay-at-home order.

13

13

Several conservative and Republican speakers spoke at the rallies in , the scene of a tense standoff between police officers and protesters, and in Springfield.

Many brandished signs demanding "FREEDOM" while others slammed Pritzker and compared the governor - who is Jewish - to Adolf Hitler.

Other signs suggested his executive order is part of a political ploy to sabotage President Donald Trump's reelection campaign.

"They said this was all about flattening the curve. I think we flattened the curve," Republican Party Chairman Tim Schneider told the on Saturday.

"You know what this is all about? This is about taking down President Trump in November."

13

13

13

Protester Connie Unger backed Schneider's remarks, telling the newspaper the Democratic governor has "overstepped his boundaries."

"He is against our state, he has another motive, and I don't believe that he is a true patriot," she said.

"His motive is to be the most liberal governor so that he can run for a higher office."

Protesters rallied as state health officials announced another 74 -related deaths on Saturday.

The Illinois Department of Public Health also said another 2,088 people in the state have tested positive for COVID-19, while 4,058 residents have died from the virus during the pandemic.

However, the Northeast region of the state has met the governor's criteria to move into the third phase of his reopening plan when his lockdown order expires at the end of the month.

This means that several non-essential businesses such as salons and barbershops could reopen with health precautions in place by May 29.

13

13

13

Pritzker revealed to Saturday that despite the terrible death toll, the percentage of people testing positive for the virus is declining.

"We've done so well up to now and I hope we continue on the same course," Pritzker said.

The governor hopes that as the state moves to open more testing sites, more areas will move closer to phase four of reopening at the end of June.

"As we open up more testing sites and as we make available more materials for testing, I think we're in a much better place," Pritzker told the station.

"We're making a lot of progress, I feel like we're on a path to being in that spot."

The anti-lockdown protests in Illinois are part of several that have taken place throughout the country as Americans become increasingly restless.

13

13

13

MOST READ IN NEWS

NO DICE

Menendez brothers freedom bid hit with legal blow days before new DA takes over

COLD CASE

Cops said I killed my daughter JonBenet Ramsay…but we might know the real killer

FAMILY TRAGEDY

Ryan Kobayashi: Missing traveler Hannah's dad found dead in parking lot

family loss

Missing traveler's dad found dead in parking lot as search takes tragic turn

A viral video captured a at an anti-lockdown rally in on Thursday.

President while denouncing the journalist Kevin Vesey's work as "fake news."

At one of several protests on Thursday in , as armed militia men demonstrated in front of the state capitol.
More than 88,000 Americans have died from the coronavirus, while more than 1.4 million have been infected with the killer bug.

13

13