[11] The anti-lockdown protests were first spawned with a nationwide call in mid-March by an online Facebook page by the name of "American Revolution 2.0" and a meme that went viral.

"[18] The anger driving the protests was called "both real and manufactured", with conservative groups engaging in astroturfing via centralized organization backed by anonymous donors.

The events would later be renamed and sponsored by Charismatic Christian magazine Charisma News and expand to include themes of COVID-19 misinformation, QAnon, election denialism, and spiritual warfare.

[37][38] On April 15, the day of the protest, Michigan had at least 28,059 confirmed cases—the third highest number of cases in the United States—and 1,921 deaths had been attributed to the disease in the state.

[53] Some protesters compared the Governor to Adolf Hitler while children danced in masks of Donald Trump and Barack Obama on the steps of the Capitol.

[57] The organization's Facebook group was deleted over death threats against Governor Whitmer and a fight broke out over a doll tied to a noose at the protest.

[62][63] On April 19, Sven Sundgaard, a meteorologist at NBC affiliate KARE11, reposted a quote from a Rabbi Michael Latz accusing the right-wing protesters of being "white nationalist Nazi sympathizer gun fetishist miscreants" on his personal Facebook page.

[73][72] On May 2, a small group of anti-lockdown protesters in Bexley patrolled the streets outside the private residence of Ohio Department of Health Director Dr. Amy Acton.

[75] The Bexley City Council briefly considered a local ordinance banning protests outside Acton's home, but ultimately decided against the measure.

"[78] Hundreds of protesters paraded through Hartford at the CT Liberty Rally on April 20 demanding that businesses closed by Governor Ned Lamont's coronavirus legislation be reopened.

[81] On May 4, hundreds gathered outside the Massachusetts State House for a Liberty Rally promoted by conservative radio show host Jeffrey Kuhner and by Super Happy Fun America, the organizers of the controversial 2019 Boston Straight Pride Parade.

[82] The rally crowd was "tightly packed", largely ignored social distancing protocols, and many in the group refused to wear masks.

[87] On May 20, hundreds of hairdressers and barbers organized by the NJ Salon And Spa Coalition gathered in Verona Park dressed in black to plead for the state to reopen their businesses.

[88] On November 28, a pro-Trump Stop the Steal caravan protest traveled around New Jersey for several hours starting near the Trump Golf Course in Bedminster and ending near Governor Murphy's home in Middletown, where the focus shifted to criticizing the statewide lockdown restrictions.

[89] On April 22, scores of cars and trucks blared their horns near Albany's Capitol Park in a protest called Operation Gridlock: Reopen NY.

[98] Anti-lockdown protesters marched from the Governor's Mansion to the Old Capitol Building in Tallahassee to demand that the state allow businesses to go back to work.

[100] Dozens of people gathered on the lawn of the state capitol in Frankfort in the afternoon of Wednesday, April 15, 2020, to protest Governor Andy Beshear's anti-coronavirus measures.

[118] On Saturday, April 18, hundreds protested at the statehouse in Austin, Texas, at a You Can't Close America rally organized by InfoWars' Alex Jones.

[119] On May 12, hair salon owner Shelley Luther was found guilty of civil and criminal contempt in Dallas for ignoring a temporary restraining order.

[124] On July 4, 2020, an event called The Freedom Rally was held in front of the Tom Green County Courthouse in San Angelo to protest masks, lockdowns, the science behind COVID-19 and "liberal media.

[141][142] On April 26, protesters carrying signs that said "SM BIZ MATTERS" and "My constitutional rights are essential" gathered in Palm Springs.

[147][148] On May 1, about 100 cars draped in American flags and signs reading "Open Our Country" and "Remember the Constitution" jammed De la Guerra Plaza in Santa Barbara on Friday afternoon.

"[151] On May 2, a lone man protested face-mask requirements by openly wearing a Ku Klux Klan hood at Vons supermarket in Santee.

[159] On July 14, gyms in Riverside[160] and University Heights, San Diego[161] remained open despite Governor Newsom's renewed statewide closings.

[162] On July 15, a grocery store employee in Los Angeles used pepper spray against a customer who allegedly assaulted a woman after being asked to wear a mask.

[163] On July 28, about five dozen hairstylists gathered in front of San Diego City Hall to protest county rules prohibiting salons from providing services indoors.

[164] On November 30, hundreds, including former UFC champion Tito Ortiz, gathered at a pier in Huntington Beach for a "curfew breaker" protest against COVID-19 restrictions.

[166] On April 13, 2021, anti-mask protesters stormed a grocery store in Carmel Valley, San Diego, taking an emotional toll on staff.

[199] On April 16, President Donald Trump issued guidelines for how to phase out restrictions, saying that governors would decide how to reopen their own states and suggesting a cautious three-phase approach.

[205] On April 20, 2020, Facebook announced that it was blocking events and messages from anti-quarantine protest groups "when gatherings do not follow the health parameters established by the government and are therefore unlawful".