Protestors in West Texas are holding demonstrations asking government officials to open up businesses in the Lone Star State. The organizer of one of the demonstrations was cited by local officials for violating a city’s stay-home order and holding a protest without a permit.
Last week in Lubbock, about 30 citizens held a rolling protest to demand the reopening of small businesses in the area. The protestors gathered in Clapp Park and led a demonstration that concluded at Jennings Park.
Paul McArthur, one of the protest organizers in Lubbock, told The Daily Toreador that small businesses needed to be reopened so they could participate in the economy.
“There’s a ton of small businesses here in Lubbock that can use that money,” McArthur said.
Meanwhile, in Amarillo, demonstrators held a similar rally. On Friday, several cars, motorcycles, and trucks led a rolling protest through downtown Amarillo, beginning at the Amarillo Civic Center Complex and ending in front of Amarillo City Hall. With banners that read “Reopen America,” the demonstrators were messaging to government officials their desire for the local economy to be reopened.
Jason Foglesong, an Amarillo citizen who has been calling on officials to reopen the economy, said he believes the government needs to allow Texans to go back to work.
“Grinding our economy to a halt and destroying the livelihoods of millions of Texans—millions of Americans—is not an appropriate response to this emergency,” Foglesong said. “While I understand our government at all levels wants to save lives, this has become an exercise in governmental overreach that, in my opinion, reveals how little many of our officials and citizens alike respect or even understand our Constitution.”
In El Paso, about 100 people held a demonstration at the El Paso County Courthouse on Saturday. Participants displayed signs calling for a safe reopening of Texas and for their government officials to end the closure of local businesses. According to KVIA-TV, the organizer of the event was later issued citations by local authorities for violating the city’s stay-home order and not having a permit for the gathering. He has vowed to fight those citations in court.
Organizers are also planning to host an event in Midland this weekend. On Saturday, concerned citizens will gather for a “Freedom Cruise.” This event will begin at 2 p.m. and is hosted by the Midland Patriots.
Interested participants are encouraged to decorate their car, trailer, or motorcycle to show patriotism for their community.
