Anoka Times

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz extended his stay-at-home executive order, but after three weeks of the order in effect, protesters are asking the governor to rethink his decision. 

With the extension of the stay-at-home order, some small businesses are allowed to safely reopen, but not all, according to a press release from the Minnesota House of Representatives. The "Liberate Minnesota" movement is calling for Walz to reopen the economy, which will allow all nonessential businesses to open and individuals to work, according to KARE.

“It should not be up to a few commissioners in Saint Paul to be the sole decision-makers for thousands of businesses and millions of employees," House Minority Leader Kurt Daudt said in the release. "We need a transparent process that includes the public, business leaders, health experts, and legislators—together, we can create a Minnesota plan to reopen our economy, and do it in a way that protects people’s health and well-being.”

Daudt said there should be members of the public, legislators, representative from small and large businesses, health care experts and many others helping and being involved in the process of reopening the state. 

Many members of the public are also calling on the governor to reopen the economy. One protester told Kare that his "small business is getting flushed down the toilet" if the economy doesn't reopen. Another said, "My children need their jobs." 

But after three weeks with the economy shutdown, the governor's order is still in effect and all nonessential businesses throughout the state remain closed, according to KARE.

Republican Senate candidate Jason Lewis attended the "Liberate Minnesota" rally and said there is no choice but to open the economy.  

"In the face of 22 million people being thrown into jobless roles, Best Buy furloughing 50,000 people this is not a binary choice, we have to open the economy and beat the virus," Lewis told KARE.

Bruce Bald, a protester at the rally, said the longer the order is in effect, the more harm that will be done. 

"There’s going to be lots and lots of harm done over something that’s, we’re going off of models that are very flawed," Bald told KARE.

But Minnesotans aren't alone. President Donald Trump has been supporting the protests and is encouraging Walz to reopen the state, according to KARE.

Trump tweeted "Liberate Minnesota!" on Friday as protesters said opening the economy was a risk that had to be taken. 

Protester Ann Johnson said she would happily wear a mask to keep others safe, but Walz needs to open the economy. 

“With the state shut down as a result of the governor’s executive order, Minnesotans deserve greater transparency and input into the process of eventually reopening our economy and getting folks back to work,” Daudt said in the release. “If we can begin the process of repairing our economy while still protecting those most vulnerable, we should have that conversation. Let’s let the numbers guide our work and do this in a way that prioritizes health and safety while doing everything we can to make sure our economy can come roaring back when this crisis is behind us.”

Many protesters also said driving the state into a potential depression is not the way to overcome the virus, especially with almost 500,000 Minnesotans filing for unemployment, KARE reports. 

"This is America, this is Minnesota we’re not going to stop our way of life in the name of the latest challenge we’re going to defeat the challenge and we’re going to get folks back to work," Lewis told KARE.

But Walz did say in a press briefing that he is planning to slowly reopen the government in phases, similar to the plan Trump released, according to KARE. 

"My first responsibility is the protection of Minnesota's people," Walz said in the briefing. "I think we did see yesterday the president unveiled a three-step plan that mirrored exactly what we're trying to do. He also said governors would be at the forefront. I don't have time to figure out why something like that would happen, I just have to from Minnesota's perspective."

Walz also issued an executive order which would allow certain outdoor recreational businesses to begin opening.