Demonstrators unite to support law enforcement in a Blue Lives Matter protest. // Photo courtesy of Amudalat Ajasa

The COVID-19 pandemic is not keeping protesters from standing up for justice. In Minnesota’s Twin Cities, Black Lives Matter and Blue Lives Matter protests were held only hours apart and 15 minutes away from each other. However, there were key differences in the groups’ attitudes toward enforcing coronavirus precautions.

“No one wears masks at Blue Lives Matter protests,” said Callie Dochterman, a Minnesota activist who has been to about four counterprotests against Blue Lives Matter. “I’ve yet to see a single Blue Lives Matter protest participant wearing a mask.”

A recent “United We Stand and Patriots March for America” rally reaffirmed Dochterman’s sentiments.

Of the over 500 protesters at the march, ranging from children to elders, only some of the state patrol officers and a few protesters were seen wearing masks.

The march’s purpose was to support first responders, according to Jen Leigh, the lead organizer for the rally. However, demonstrators seemed to have a different idea. Many protesters walked with Trump 2020 flags and signs, chanting “four more years,” “USA” and “back the blue” and singing “The Star-Spangled Banner.”

“This rally is not really about COVID-19 one way or another … It’s [about] personal accountability,” Leigh said.

Protestors are encouraged to abide by the COVID-19 safety guidelines, but it is not enforced. “I cannot, nor do I want to ever think I have the right to, control someone else,” Leigh said.

Even though Leigh cannot “control” the choices of people at the rallies, the event description on Facebook did not encourage or acknowledge COVID-19 precautions.

On the other hand, Black Lives Matter protests consistently ask protesters to take health and safety precautions in their Facebook event descriptions. “This will be a socially distanced protest,” read one post. “Please wear a mask and expect to maintain a six-foot distance.”

“Masks are required,” stated another Facebook post. “Please bring hand sanitizer and practice social distancing.”

“In my experience, at Black Lives Matter protests, almost everyone is wearing a mask,” Dochterman said. “Masks are really encouraged at Black Lives Matter protests … In the description section [of the Facebook post], they often say that masks are required or encouraged.”

People of all ages came together at a “United We Stand and Patriots March for America” protest in Minnesota. // Photo courtesy of Amudalat Ajasa

“For [Donald Trump supporters] to completely disregard safety – even for their own people – it’s inhumane and careless,” said Tori Gens, a medic for Justice Frontline Aid. “A lot of times at right-leaning protests, no one is wearing a mask, and if they [are], it’s [only] a few people.”

Justice Frontline Aid is a non-profit organization with the goal of equipping protesters in the fight for justice. The organization, formed shortly after George Floyd’s death, provides protesters with water, food, medical aid and masks and blocks off intersections for protesters with bikes and motorcycles. Justice Frontline Aid has not been asked to give aid at any Blue Lives Matter or Trump rallies in Minnesota, according to Gens.

Protesters at a Black Lives Matter took to the streets wearing their PPE. // Photo courtesy of Amudalat Ajasa

“We wanted everyone here to wear a mask, and we have the Justice Frontline Aid marshal here … [Justice Frontline Aid has] free masks and free hand sanitizer if people don’t have their own,” said Omonigho Egi, the lead organizer for a “Black Lives Matter Woodbury” (Minn.) protest. “Since this is a public forum, we are also wiping down the mic after each speaker.”

Outdoor demonstrations where most participants wore masks have not been found to cause a direct increase in positive COVID-19 cases, according to an article from Healthline.

“I would say 99% of people at Black Lives Matter protests are wearing masks. That shows a lot [about] what they care about versus no one wearing masks at the other protests and what they care about,” Gens said. “I wish that people would take safety more seriously.”

Demonstrators at “Black Lives Matter “ protest in Woodbury. // Photo courtesy of Amudalat Ajasa

Pictures and videos of pro-Trump rallies posted on social media illustrate the lack of COVID-19 precautions taken by the president’s supporters. Images from recent Trump rallies in Pennsylvania, Florida, Ohio and Virginia, show protesters in tightly packed crowds with only a few masks visible.

Since COVID-19 became the topic of all news at the beginning of 2020, Trump has repeatedly downplayed the virus, going against health experts and scientists. He has also publicly countered Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, according to Bob Woodward’s book “Rage.”

During a campaign rally in South Carolina on Feb. 28, Trump accused the Democrats of politicizing the ongoing outbreaks in an effort to impeach him: “This is their new hoax.”

Since then, he has encouraged states to reopen prematurely, cut funding for the World Health Organization, predicted the virus would disappear by the summer due to warmer weather and encouraged students to return to school in the fall.

Most recently, at the first presidential debate, Trump attempted to belittle former Vice President Joe Biden for wearing masks during the pandemic. “I wear masks when needed. When needed, I wear masks,” he said. “I don’t wear masks like him. Every time you see him, he’s got a mask [on].”

Trump’s attitude toward coronavirus precautions and against health experts and scientists has molded the attitudes of his supporters, and this national lack of precautions could be one of the reasons that the United States currently leads the world in cases of COVID-19.