Protesters march at the Arizona State Capitol in Phoenix on Sept. 25, 2020. /KTAR News Photo/Taylor Kinnerup
By Chloe Jones | Arizona Republic
Around 50 people gathered in front of the Arizona Capitol building Friday to protest Gov. Doug Ducey’s executive order on COVID-19 and to call for an end to mask mandates.
Dawn Garcia, one of the organizers of the event, said she and her friend decided to plan the event after joining a Facebook group called Great 48, which has organized similar events earlier this year. She said she saw how people were feeling suppressed and wanted to reach out to do something that could make a change.
The event started around 11 a.m. with the Pledge of Allegiance followed by a series of speakers, including republic state Sen. Sylvia Allen and republican state Rep. Kelly Townsend.
Attendees said the Governor’s executive order is unconstitutional and want the legislature to hold a special session to vote on COVID-19 restrictions and a liability bill that would protect business owners from being sued if they did not require patrons to wear masks.
