Related
PITTSBURGH (Newsradio 1020 KDKA) - Thousands of people are expecting to protest Pennsylvania’s stay-at-home order Monday.
In Pittsburgh, a group is meeting at the City-County Building for a demonstration at noon.
In Harrisburg, protestor are planning to rally at the State Capital. Spotlight PA says state Representative Aaron Bernstein, who represents parts of Beaver and Lawrence Counties, will speak at the event to advocate the reopening of the state’s economy.
A Facebook group called Reopen PA is organizing the event in Harrisburg
Co-Founder Matthew Bellis told KDKA Radio's Wendy Bell they plan to stay in their vehicles and ring the Capitol Building honking horns and handing out bumper stickers.
"Our government needs to hear from us, and they need to hear from us loud and clear, to reopen the state," said Bellis.
Bellis says individuals are taking measures to be safe but the economy can't be hampered anymore.
"The economy is directly tied to not only peoples' livelihoods but their life," said Bellis. He cites a rise in domestic violence and suicide rates among other social ills.
Told of a planned rally Governor Wolf on Thursday said, "I'm sorry that that's happened, if that in fact happens because they're banding together and violating the social distancing guidelines. They're actually hurting themselves," said Wolf.
Pennsylvania Health Secretary Dr. Rachel Levine is expressing concerns of large crowds gathering.
“If they come out and they’re congregating together in a large crowd of course with a global pandemic of a respiratory virus like COVID-19, that could facilitate the spread,” said Levine.
An order went into effect Sunday night requiring all businesses that remain open to turn away anyone who is not wearing a mask.
___Listen to KDKA Radio on the RADIO.COM AppTell your smart speaker to "play News Radio 10 20 KDKA"Receive email updates from KDKA RadioFollow KDKA Radio: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram