02:40USA: Anti-lockdown protesters burn masks at New York City demo
Anti-lockdown protesters burnt masks in a New York City park on Sunday, as they condemned coronavirus restrictions.
The demonstrators could be seen dousing the surgical style masks in lighter fluid before setting them ablaze in the city's Washington Square Park, after marching through the city amid confrontations with onlookers.
Marchers could be heard urging passers-by to remove their masks, telling them to "free your face," with one woman swearing at the protesters to don masks themselves.
Initially the protesters met at Union Square where they staged what was described as a 'COVID play,' with one performer dressed as a doctor, with others playing a pro-mask character, the coronavirus, and a bat, while discussing conspiracy theories about the virus.
"Why are the people not asking the right question? Why was it okay to protest during Black Lives Matter and they said there was no COVID there, and if you want to visit your family they say there is COVID there?" said questioned a protester.
Another protester could be seen wearing a bra made out of masks, with the woman defending the decision not to wear a mask as "my body, my choice."
While there has been little research on the impact of the Black Lives Matters protests on coronavirus incidence, initial reports indicate that the demonstrations did not lead to a spike in cases. According to a working paper published by the US non-profit research organisation, the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER), in June, there was no evidence the protests led to such an increase.
The anti-lockdown demonstration followed similar anti-lockdown demonstrations in California, upstate New York and Minnesota.
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has said a new spike of COVID-19 is expected after the Thanksgiving holidays, and has warned of increased restrictions being implemented in several areas as hospitals face capacity issues.
As of Monday, the US has registered 12.2 million cases of coronavirus and 256,746 related deaths, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University.
02:40Anti-lockdown protesters burnt masks in a New York City park on Sunday, as they condemned coronavirus restrictions.
The demonstrators could be seen dousing the surgical style masks in lighter fluid before setting them ablaze in the city's Washington Square Park, after marching through the city amid confrontations with onlookers.
Marchers could be heard urging passers-by to remove their masks, telling them to "free your face," with one woman swearing at the protesters to don masks themselves.
Initially the protesters met at Union Square where they staged what was described as a 'COVID play,' with one performer dressed as a doctor, with others playing a pro-mask character, the coronavirus, and a bat, while discussing conspiracy theories about the virus.
"Why are the people not asking the right question? Why was it okay to protest during Black Lives Matter and they said there was no COVID there, and if you want to visit your family they say there is COVID there?" said questioned a protester.
Another protester could be seen wearing a bra made out of masks, with the woman defending the decision not to wear a mask as "my body, my choice."
While there has been little research on the impact of the Black Lives Matters protests on coronavirus incidence, initial reports indicate that the demonstrations did not lead to a spike in cases. According to a working paper published by the US non-profit research organisation, the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER), in June, there was no evidence the protests led to such an increase.
The anti-lockdown demonstration followed similar anti-lockdown demonstrations in California, upstate New York and Minnesota.
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has said a new spike of COVID-19 is expected after the Thanksgiving holidays, and has warned of increased restrictions being implemented in several areas as hospitals face capacity issues.
As of Monday, the US has registered 12.2 million cases of coronavirus and 256,746 related deaths, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University.