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Group rallies against Minnesota mask mandate at State Capitol

While many people are masking up others believe it's not necessary and impedes on their rights.

ST PAUL, Minn. — Wrapped in the flag and free of masks, demonstrators gathered elbow to elbow on the state capitol mall to protest Minnesota’s mask mandate.

“If I choose not to wear a mask into a business, that should be my right,” an organizer told the crowd through a bullhorn. “If I want to risk something that’s on me.”

Jim Lahr stood with a small group of protesters nearby. “It’s just a big hoax,” the Ramsey man said of the global pandemic. “It’s all about control, fear - control you through fear,” he added.

Lahr said he considers the mask mandate an over-reach by government and part of a plan to destroy capitalism.

“By destroying the small businesses, that’s their way of ushering in socialism,” he said.

State troopers stood nearby, keeping anti-mask demonstrators from mixing with people rallying in support of the family of Elijah McClain, a young black Colorado man killed by police a year ago this month.

In that group, not a bare face could be found.

“We need to take the science seriously,” a masked Marie LePage said. We wear seatbelts, we do a lot of other things that are for everybody’s best interest and our own best interests.”

Seated in the grass, a few away, Tate Tufte kept his mouth and nose covered too. “It’s just a cloth mask that saves people, so what’s the negative,” he said.

Standing off to the side, wearing a Trump cap, John Eustice saw plenty of negatives in mask-wearing.

“What pandemic?” he asked, calling into question the recommendations of healthcare professionals.

“I think it’s about the Dems trying to control things and make Trump look bad,” Eustice said.

Anti-mask protesters, some toting guns, also displayed their contempt for the media.

“KARE 11, we want you gone,” a rally organizer shouted as she walked her bullhorn into the lens of a news photographer. “You’re fake news,” she said, turning on a siren.

Demonstrators surrounded, grabbed and taunted the KARE 11 crew until state troopers moved in, pulling the news crew out as the crowd cheered.

“Bye, Bye KARE 11,” a protester shouted.

“Bring back real journalists,” another screamed into the camera.

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