More protests in US to lift coronavirus restrictions

Megan JELINGER / AFP

Protesters took to the streets across several parts of the US, demanding authorities to lift coronavirus-related lockdowns.

Rallies were held in Arizona, Colorado, Montana and Washington state on Sunday.

An estimated 2,500 people defied a ban on public gatherings to gather at the Washington state capitol in Olympia to urge authorities to reconsider stay-at-home orders.

It comes as more than 22 million Americans filed for unemployment benefits in the last month due to the shutdown. 

Meanwhile, President Donald Trump described the protesters as "people who love (the) country" as they are eager "to get back to work".

So far, the country has the world's largest number of confirmed coronavirus cases, with more than 760,000 infections and over 40,500 deaths.

It comes as some governors plan to increase screenings as part of their plans to reopen their states.

More from International

  • UK inquiry finds 'chilling' cover-up of infected blood scandal

    An infected blood scandal in Britain was no accident but the fault of doctors and a succession of governments that led to 3,000 deaths and thousands more contracting hepatitis or HIV, a public inquiry has found.

  • Iranian President Raisi killed in helicopter accident, state media says

    Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, seen as a potential successor to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was killed in a helicopter crash in mountainous terrain near the Azerbaijan border, officials and state media said on Monday.

  • ICC prosecutor seeks arrest warrants for Israeli, Hamas leaders

    The International Criminal Court prosecutor's office said on Monday it had requested arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, his defence chief and three Hamas leaders for alleged war crimes.

  • Assange given permission to appeal against US extradition

    WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange was given permission to have a full appeal over his extradition to the United States after arguing at London's High Court on Monday he might not be able to rely on his right to free speech at a trial.

  • Israel intends to broaden Rafah sweep, Defence Minister tells US

    Israel intends to broaden its military operation in Rafah, Defence Minister Yoav Gallant on Monday told a senior aide to US President Joe Biden, who has warned against major action in the southern Gazan city that may risk mass civilian casualties. Israel describes Rafah, which abuts the Gaza Strip's border with the Egyptian Sinai, as the last stronghold of Hamas Islamists whose governing and combat capabilities it has been trying to dismantle during the more than seven-month-old war. After weeks of public disagreements with Washington over the Rafah planning, Israel on May 6 ordered Pale