Several hundred people demonstrated against containment measures in Pennsylvania on Friday during a rally in Harrisburg, the state capital. This demonstration was held in spite of a first relaxation of the restrictions already effective or planned from May 22 in 49 of the 67 counties of this State. It brought together far fewer people than during a first gathering on April 20.
Many of the slogans on Friday were the same as at the previous demonstration, denouncing activity restrictions deemed excessive imposed by Democratic Governor Tom Wolf and his team. Among the demonstrators - most of whom did not wear masks or respect social distancing - many supporters of Donald Trump, waving American flags and others calling for his re-election during the presidential election next November, or sometimes chanting "USA, USA, USA!" The slogan "Selfish and Proud" came up on many placards. In a debate on highly politicized confinement in the United States, people who do not wear masks are regularly called "selfish" .
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Pennsylvania has been less affected by the pandemic than the neighboring states of New York and New Jersey, with more than 60,000 reported cases of the coronavirus, and more than 4,300 deaths, according to state data. Anti-containment demonstrations have multiplied in the United States for a month, especially in the most contested states for the presidential election, encouraged by President Donald Trump who wants to revive the economy quickly.
Pennsylvania is one of those states, like Michigan and Wisconsin. In the latter state, the Supreme Court, seized by republican elected officials, canceled Wednesday the prolongation of the confinement decided by the administration of the democratic governor Tony Evers.