Facebook is unfriending anti-quarantine protestors.
The social media company has removed events set up by protestors in states such as Nebraska, California and New Jersey, where thousands of protestors — masked and unmasked alike — have gathered in the hopes of opening up the country in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic.
“Unless government prohibits the event during this time, we allow it to be organized on Facebook,” a company spokesperson tells The Post. “For this same reason, events that defy government’s guidance on social distancing aren’t allowed on Facebook.”
Events were removed in states where protests violate stay-at-home orders. Protests are raging across the country over states’ shelter-in-place warnings, with many claiming there are enough tests available to open up businesses again — health officials warn that we’re not quite there yet, however.
Over the weekend, rallies took place in cities such as Denver, Colorado, where protestors came head-to-head with healthcare workers in a battle over social distancing. Across California, organizers carried signs that read “Open Cali Now” and “Saltwater is Safe,” referring to beach closures in the state.
“Our freedom has been taken away from us, people are locked in their homes,” Nicole Brown told the Orange County Register at a protest in Huntington Beach, California.
In Texas, where more than 18,200 cases of COVID-19 and at least 453 deaths, protestors marched at the capital in Austin chanting “Let us work!” at a rally organized by “Infowars” host Owen Shroyer.
Health officials are warning activists that assembling in large groups could have dire effects. Already, Kentucky experienced its highest single-day spike in coronavirus cases after protests broke out in the state to lift lockdowns.
Others have taken place in Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Maryland, Minnesota, North Carolina, Utah and Washington over recent days.
Many of the protests are organized over Facebook. The company said it made the decision to ban those events in states where governments have issued stay-at-home orders.
A NBC New/Wall Street Journal poll found that the protestors are a vocal minority: 32% of the respondents said they’re concerned the restrictions will go on too long.