About 100 protesters decked out in red, white and blue gathered in defiance of state mandates aimed at preventing the spread of COVID-19 in support of individuals' rights at the Arizona Capitol on Saturday.
There wasn't a mask in sight.
Instead, the demonstrators gathered their tents, chairs, flags and food for the Independence Day Tailgate and First Amendment Protest outside the state Capitol several days after Gov. Doug Ducey announced the mandated closure prohibiting gatherings of more than 50 people.
"We came here because we don't want to be locked down and we came here to celebrate the Fourth of July," said Hop Nguyen, who attended the First Amendment Protest and is running for Arizona Senate in Legislative District 22.
This was one of several protests that took place across the state and in Phoenix on the Fourth of July in defiance of Ducey's mandate, which forced the closure of bars and gyms for the second time since the COVID-19 pandemic began.
First Amendment activities, such as religious and political gatherings, are exempt from the order.
The tailgate event, which brought together several people who were wearing hats and waving flags in support of U.S. President Donald J. Trump, started at 5 p.m. Several speeches were made by candidates running for various offices in the state, including Daniel McCarthy, who is running against U.S. Sen. Martha McSally in the Republican primary in August.
"I don't care what political party, what race you are, what creed you are, what my message is, is individuals' rights — individual freedom," McCarthy told The Arizona Republic. "The government has become so overburdened that they now want us to wear the government on our face.
"If you want to wear a mask or if you would like to hide in your house, whatever you want to do for the coronavirus, you're more than welcome to do, but you can't force us to do those same things," he continued.
Neither the Legislative Council, which controls the grounds outside the House and Senate buildings, nor the Department of Administration, which controls the Wesley Bolin Plaza, permitted any gatherings on July 4. A permit is required for any rallies featuring stages or amplified sound over a public address system.
Speakers at the tailgate used a microphone and speaker placed in the back of a pickup truck throughout the event.
Protesters at the tailgate event were discouraged from wearing masks — almost no one at the protest wore one.
"In America, we have the freedom to choose," said Matt Papke, who attended the event at the Capitol. "... There's not a significant uptick of deaths anywhere, so I don't think the mask is really a health policy as it is more of a control policy. But people are free to do whatever they want to do."
At about 7 p.m., many protesters at the Capitol left early as the W.E. Rising Project protest, in support of the missing Fort Hood soldier Pfc. Vanessa Guillen, reached the Capitol. They chanted various phrases at the tailgate protesters as a number of armed attendees stood by, seemingly guarding those trying to leave.
"We don't want a confrontation," said Nguyen, whose gun was visible in a hip holster. "This is a peaceful gathering. Yes, we are defying the governor's order, because it is unconstitutional, but we do not go out here to look for trouble."
Some people at the tailgate took the opportunity to engage with those from the protest for Guillen, some with their gun in hand. Protesters chanted "Black Lives Matter" and "Justice for Vanessa." One woman at the tailgate responded to protesters with "All lives matter."
Nearly two hours into the event, the presence of Arizona Department of Public Safety troopers seemingly prompted the W.E. Rising protesters to return to City Hall and the tailgaters to head back to their cars.
It's not clear if DPS ordered either group to leave or why the agency chose to respond then. A department spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for more information on Saturday night.
Reach the reporter at Audrey.Jensen@arizonarepublic.com or on Twitter at @Audreyj101.
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