SAN DIEGO (KGTV) - Thousands of protesters swarmed the Embarcadero Saturday afternoon demanding the Stay at Home Order be lifted.
"We need to get back to work," one man who ran up to 10News videographer Paul Grijalva yelled.
A parade of honking cars with cheering passengers spilling out the windows circled Harbor Drive, supporting protesters who walked on the sidewalk. A large group formed in front of the County Administration Building.
Many carried signs preaching freedom and business are essential, some read, 'Reopen California'.
"We can still open the state and be safe," protester Daniel Raisor said. He was holding a "Gay 4 Trump 2020" sign.
Raisor advocated for social distancing and the option for people to wear facial coverings.
"Gavin Newsom is treating it like a tyranny, and we're free people and he's locked us up in our homes. We are on lock down, we are on house arrest while they release people from prison at the same time," he said.
San Diegans are getting more desperate as the weeks grind by.
"I have four kids I need to support, what's going to happen when I lose my house? I've lost my job. How am I supposed to pay my property taxes on time with an unemployment check?! Recall Newsom, let's open up Cali again baby!" a man yelled.
The organizers of the protest believe COVID-19 isn't as fatal as it was projected to be and believe the lock down is preventing our community from developing immunity.
Johns Hopkins University published a recent article saying, "although more than 2.5 million confirmed cases of COVID-19 have been reported worldwide, studies suggest that (as of early April 2020) no more than 2-4%3–5 of any country’s population has been infected with SARS-CoV-2 (the coronavirus that causes COVID-19)."
The article states COVID-19 is 100 times more deadly than chickenpox. To reach herd immunity, at least 70% or more of the population would need to be immune.
Based on the current rate of spread, the article states it would take about a year to reach herd immunity, and statistics project more than 500,0000 Americans would be dead from COVID-19.
Sobering projections while San Diegans are fighting to rebound.