Anti-mask protesters & armed militia demonstrate outside Ohio statehouse calling coverings ‘propaganda’
HUNDREDS of anti-mask protesters and members of armed militia gathered outside the Ohio statehouse on Saturday to protest face coverings.
Pictures showed the demonstrators protests COVID-19 coverings, calling them "propaganda" and tools for political control.
Demonstrators claimed doctors who urged them to cover their faces amid the pandemic are wrong, and that case numbers and death rates are skewed, reported.
Facemasks are not mandatory statewide.
Members of the militia – who were reportedly contracted as security for the demonstrations – were seen their arms out during the "Stand For Freedom Ohio" event.
A flyer for the protest said that "security" would be given by a "militia, military veterans, bikers and patriot groups," reported.
"Cloth face coverings are one of the most powerful weapons we have to slow and stop the spread of the virus – particularly when used universally within a community setting.
"All Americans have a responsibility to protect themselves, their families, and their communities," he added.
The CDC said if all Americans wore a mask, Redfield said that the pandemic get under control in a month or two, reported.
“I think if we could get everybody to wear a mask right now I think in four, six, eight weeks we could bring this epidemic under control," the CDC director said during an interview with Dr. Howard Bauchner of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
The demonstrations came as COVID-19 cases continue to climb across the US.
As of Sunday, more than 3.7million cases have been confirmed across America, with more than 140,000 deaths.