American Revolution 2.0, Other Groups Protesting Stay-at-Home Order Friday in Raleigh

RALEIGH – Multiple groups are scheduled to protest Governor Roy Cooper’s Stay-at-Home order Friday, according to Raleigh Police. American Revolution 2.0, a grassroots group started in early April by Chicago native Josh Ellis, has held protests across the country, including involvement in the Lansing, Michigan protests that gained national media attention.

Another group, one with a dual focus advocating for both the 1st and 2nd Amendment, has already had members gather Friday morning in downtown Raleigh carrying firearms, according to news reports. The protesters are dressed in paramilitary gear, with firearms, arguing against unconstitutional restrictions.

American Revolution 2.0 has tighter focus on the Stay-at-Home order itself, the shutdown policies that have ravaged so many livelihoods, and Ellis argues the restrictions on movement, assembly, and making a living are all unconstitutional.

A Reopen NC protest held Tuesday ended with the arrest of it’s founder and a couple others as they ignored police orders, allegedly damaged property (the gate), and acted generally belligerent. The loss of composure caused some leaders of the group to publicly split with the founder, lamenting that the group’s mission was obscured in favor of theatrics and obnoxious behavior more akin to whiny Leftists than proud liberty-loving conservatives.

Reporters from the Leftist media, who want nothing more than to discredit conservative groups that question their Dear Leader, have asked Ellis if that kind of protesting is on the itinerary.

From WRAL:

“[…] “It’s a giant party. Let’s get together. Let’s have a good time. Let’s celebrate America,” said Josh Ellis, who founded the grassroots group on April 8. “This is unconstitutional. It should never have happened and it should never happen again.” […]

“We are insisting things don’t get crazy like that,” said Ellis, when asked about Friday’s event at the North Carolina State Capitol Building.

Ellis said American Revolution 2.0 had a presence at the Michigan Capitol in Lansing on Thursday. Hundreds of protests, some carrying guns, voiced their opposition to the state’s emergency order.

“That is definitely not something we advocated for,” said Ellis. “We’ve told people to follow the law and stay peaceful.”

Ellis, who lives in the suburbs of Chicago, expects tens of thousands of people to show up nationwide. Protesters are “highly encouraged” to wear face masks and keep six feet of distance, said Ellis.

He believes the government’s role should be to educate people, make recommendations and not to restrict businesses from operating or people from gathering.

When asked if he was concerned about the spread of the virus if states opened too early, Ellis said, “That says I am not responsible for my own health. That’s the message when you are saying only government can protect you from this. You are saying you are either incapable or too stupid to take care of your own health.” […]”

We’ll bring you more on the multiple protests of the Stay-at-Home orders as they progress. The N.C. General Assembly will be in session working on relief legislation for the damage caused by those very orders on Friday.