A man calls for the recall of Gov. Steve Sisolak during a “Reopen Nevada” rally at the Grant Sawyer State Office Building in downtown Las Vegas Saturday, April 18, 2020.
Saturday, April 18, 2020 | 6:12 p.m.
Dozens of protesters lined the driveway at the Grant Sawyer State Office Building on this cloudy Saturday afternoon. Old Glory, Gadsden and President Donald Trump campaign flags fluttered in the spring breeze.
Emotions were upbeat: The adults, some of whom brought their children or family pets, toted their protest signs. Some displayed rifles.
During another time, if the country wasn’t battling a global pandemic, a passerby might have confused the gathering as a festive “Make America Great” rally. Vehicles decked with flags honked and motorcycles growled as they caravanned into the government facility’s parking lot among enthusiastic USA! chants.
But on Saturday the hundreds there were demanding that Gov. Steve Sisolak lift restrictions he put in place weeks ago to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus, which has claimed 155 lives in Nevada since the first fatality occurred here March 15. They also called for the governor’s ouster, passing around a petition to recall him from office.
Metro Police Lt. Shawn Romprey said none of the roughly 500 participants was arrested or cited. About a dozen Metro Police officers were on hand for what Romprey labeled as a peaceful "Reopen Nevada" event.
A similar protest took place in Carson City, where Sisolak was briefed today by medical and emergency response experts. “We’re reviewing the recommendations from the White House and making considerations for our state-specific reopening plan,” he said in a tweet. “I look forward to presenting these updates to Nevadans soon.”
Protester Kelly Schubert said her ire was not political as she didn't care much about politicians, but she views Sisolak’s order of shutting down nonessential businesses “as a dictatorship.” Sisolak has to stop telling Nevadans what they can’t do, and start offering solutions to fix the economy, she said.
Schubert, 59, said she supported a soft-opening of the state with some restrictions, but that it had to begin today. She wonders how stores like Walmart could remain open, but small businesses with a fraction of the foot traffic be ordered to close. In the long run, underlying effects of the closure will be more harmful than the virus, she said.
Hearing Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn Goodman say this week that the novel virus deaths didn’t warrant an economic shutdown was refreshing, said Schubert, who works in real estate. Goodman was “speaking the truth,” Schubert added, “And she gave me so much energy. I’m so tired of not being open.”
She and the rest of Nevadans can be responsible adults who wash their hands and wear masks, and practice distancing, she said. Although she said the virus was “scary,” Schubert said she’s not easily scared, noting that it was why she wasn’t wearing a face cover Saturday. Most of the other protesters also didn’t follow social distancing guidelines.
“If I’m gonna get it, I’m gonna get it,” she said about the virus. “We can’t stay at home and live in fear.”
“I’m willing to sacrifice for my kids,” she said.
Speakers, including purported members of the far-right organization, “Proud Boys,” took the bed of a pickup truck to speak into a megaphone and decry government overreach.
“Who here is afraid of getting sick?” asked one of the speakers, who was reciprocated by a couple of tepid “not me” responses.
Does anybody want to stay home?” he asked at the end of his remarks.
The crowd roared back with a resounding “no!”
