Protesters, House GOP Caucus Urge Maryland Governor to Reopen Parts of the State

Video and Photos Provided By Leslie Boone.

ANNAPOLIS, Md. — A number of peaceful protesters flocked to downtown Annapolis, Maryland to urge the state’s Governor Larry Hogan [R] to reopen the state for business.

At the April 18 event that many called “Operation Gridlock Annapolis,” hundreds of cars flooded the streets of downtown with their hazard lights on, circling near the state house and governor’s mansion in protest of what some deem to be overreaching and harmful executive orders.

“We acknowledge the tragedy caused by COVID-19 and appreciate that it is a significant public health concern,” a petition that has garnered roughly 2,000 signatures online says. “However, the economic, social and educational disruption caused by shutdowns is guaranteed to cause significant, even greater, harm, leading to increased deaths, economic disruption, loss of livelihood, and educational challenges for Marylanders and their families, and far less disruptive means of managing the disease can be employed.”

With car horns trumpeting throughout the historic city, protesters were advised to fill up on gas before making their journey from the Westfield Annapolis Mall into their circular route.

“We’re here,” Tim Walters, a group admin for the nearly 20,000 member Facebook group that is trying to ‘Reopen Maryland’ said in a live Facebook video. “This is a peaceful expression of our rights, not a civil disobedience event… This is simply about being heard, nothing less. This is about our voice mattering as much as anybody else’s and it is ok to agree to disagree in Maryland.”

However, these protesters are not the only people who have found problems with the governor’s executive actions.

The Maryland House Republican Caucus sent a letter to their politically supportive state leader, asking him to consider reopening businesses that can follow CDC guidelines, and possibly taking a regional approach in order to expedite reopening parts of the state.

“We fundamentally believe that what works in one region of the state may not be applicable to others,” the letter reads. “While a one-size-fits-all approach may work in some instances, the industries, geography, and clearly infection and hospitalization rates differ greatly in the various areas of the state; particularly the western-most counties, the Eastern Shore, and Southern Maryland.”

As of April 18, the Maryland Department of Health is reporting there are 12,308 cases of COVID-19 across the state, while there are likely a number of positive cases pending.

Of those cases, 69.9% are recorded in Prince George’s County, Montgomery County, Baltimore County and Baltimore City. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, those four jurisdictions would make up a population of over 3,415,000, which would comprise roughly 56.5% of the entire state’s population.

In addition to opening the state through a regional approach, the GOP members suggested that Hogan consider relaxing regulations on recreational activities like boating, golfing, and horseback riding. The caucus also is seeking statistical support for how COVID-19 models are being forecasted throughout Maryland, as well as asking the governor to reconsider reopening restaurants that offer open-air seating.

“We know striking a balance between public and economic health is not an easy one,” the letter explained. “We also acknowledge that there are no easy answers and that reopening Maryland must be done with the pronounced caution, so as not to have the sacrifices already made by so many of Maryland’s citizens and businesses be in vain.”

Read the full letter below: