FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA. (WSVN) - A group of protesters stormed the sand on Fort Lauderdale Beach to voice their objections to South Florida leaders’ decision to close all beaches during the Fourth of July weekend as a measure to help curb the spread of COVID-19.
7News cameras captured the mad dash, as demonstrators ran on the sand while waving U.S. flags, Saturday afternoon.
“We want to exercise our rights, and the least they could do is let us be on the beach on the Fourth of July,” said protester Gary Ostrow.
One of the protesters held up a sign that reads “My body, my choice.”
“We’re standing up for what we believe is right,” said Ostrow.
The protest comes days after mayors across Broward County joined forces to shut down all beaches over the holiday weekend.
“To me, the beaches are all about health and sunshine and fresh air, and that’s the very thing they’re trying to restrict us from, which is absurd,” said Ostrow.
“When they shut it down, it was really disheartening, and they shut it down for three more days. I said, ‘Enough’s enough,'” said protester James McOwen.
Hours after the protest, an 18-minute fireworks display was held in downtown Fort Lauderdale.
The beach closures follow days of record-breaking COVID-19 positive cases. Broward County reported over 1,300 new infections on Saturday, prompting officials to encourage residents to enjoy this year’s festivities at home.
But protesters said that’s still no reason to close the beaches, especially on a holiday such as this.
“We’re taking back what they tried to take away from us, which is today being the Fourth of July, Independence Day, to say that we could not go on the beach,” said protester Cindy Falco-DiCorrado, “and so we stormed the beach to say, ‘Oh, nay, nay, sorry about that.'”
“I think it’s a slap in the face to all Americans, especially the people of Broward County, and we’re not standing for it,” said Ostrow.
The demonstration remained peaceful. As of late Saturday night, there are no reports of any arrests.
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