SAN DIEGO (KGTV) – Dozens of people gathered downtown on Friday afternoon for the “Freedom Rally” to fully reopen San Diego.
Rally participant Daniel Collins told 10News, “What we're doing to the economy is really bad. What we're doing to Californians is horrible. We need to open up California.”
“We're Americans and we deserve freedom to live like adults,” added rally participant Joe Gaona.
RELATED: Organizer of downtown San Diego COVID-19 protest faces arrest, possible charges
Friday’s rally appeared to be a smaller crowd than the one at last Friday's ReOpen rally near the Hall of Justice. Video from Sky10 this Friday showed attendees lining the street, waving signs and American flags. Some came without masks and disregarded social distancing guidelines.
A passerby who did not agree with the message told 10News, “You may not be able to do everything you want but at least you're alive and eventually you'll be able to.”
RELATED: San Diego retail stores open for curbside service, but some businesses remain closed
“Our rights are being stripped left and right,” said organizer Naomi Soria. Her case is under review by the City Attorney's Office after police requested that she be charged for violating the County health order after she organized two other protests in April. “The restrictions are still very significant and a lot of people are not able to resume to business as usual."
Friday’s rally kicks off a weekend of planned demonstrations in at least four other California cities, denouncing the shutdown over the pandemic and calling on Governor Gavin Newsom to fully reopen the state.
San Diego Police said no arrests were made and no citations were issued at Friday’s rally.
