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Coloradans gather in Woodland Park to protest statewide closures

WOODLAND PARK, Colo. (KRDO) -- About 100 people lined up along Highway 24 in Woodland Park to protest the statewide closures due to coronavirus.

The event began Saturday morning with a prayer in front of Woodland Station. Many of the protesters then held signs and waved flags as drivers passing through honked their horns in a show of support.

Maureen Johnson, a Woodland Park resident, said the governor's executive orders have caused a lot more damage than may have been necessary; especially in counties where COVID-19 is not as widespread.

"We’re not really affected by that and it’s time for us to move on," Johnson said. "My heart goes out for the small businesses and the people who are losing their livelihood. And really nobody has the right to say you cannot go to work.”

As of Saturday evening, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment shows Teller County has 31 cases and 2 deaths.

Teller County Public Health has also filed a variance request that would allow more small businesses to reopen. However, state officials have yet to give a response on the waiver.

Sandi Boehr, who lives in Teller County, says the social isolation is also affecting people's mental health.

“There is a higher rate of domestic violence, child abuse. There is a higher suicide rate," Boehr said. "There are serious mental issues that are going on. And really the fallout of this is huge.” 

Some protestors also traveled from different counties to support the reopening of small businesses.

Jeff Fliegel, who was visiting from Littleton, said many of the restaurant and business shutdowns were unconstitutional and too arbitrary.

"It's the principle of judicial review," Fliegel said. "The people should be bringing these things before court and saying 'Governor Polis, are these measures constitutional? Can you discriminate capriciously between small business and larger business."

Although some drivers disagreed with the protestors and shouted back at them, there seemed to be a greater show of support for their cause.

David Rusterholtz, who is running for the Teller County Board of Commissioners, said he attributes the increased support to the conservative nature of residents in the region.

“Most people that I talk to believe that our rights are more important than health or safety," Rusterholtz said. "Because if we don’t have our liberty, what do we have? We have nothing.” 

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Zachary Aedo

Zach is a reporter for KRDO and Telemundo Surco. Learn more about Zach here.

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