Some 100 demonstrators burned masks outside Idaho's Capitol in Boise, including children who participated in the event, NBC News reported over the weekend.
No one was arrested, and organizers had permits for the protest against pandemic restrictions, but Saturday's rally was under review because a fire was started, Idaho State Police said in a statement.
In one of the videos of the rally posted on Twitter, numerous children are shown throwing masks into the fire, with one stating "here fire, you hungry? here's another mask."
Other videos from the event showed a poster board reading "No masks, no mandates. Our face, our mind," and a sign with a quote from Benjamin Franklin stating, "Those who give up liberty to purchase safety deserve neither liberty or safety," according to The Sun.
Conservative activist Darr Moon, a point person for the demonstration, said the event was one of several Burn the Mask rallies across the state on Saturday, NBC News reported. Moon insisted that because Idaho is mostly rural, it has had low coronavirus infection numbers, so masks and other restrictions are not always needed.
"We've flattened the curve a long time ago and people want to go back to work, they want to have a normal life," Moon said.
Idaho does not mandate masks. State officials, however, strongly recommend wearing them, and some cities and counties require them.
Brian Freeman ✉
Brian Freeman, a Newsmax writer based in Israel, has more than three decades writing and editing about culture and politics for newspapers, online and television.
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