CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Supporters of Reopen NC rallied in cities across the state on Memorial Day, pushing the state to lift all restrictions.
The group says they're "honoring fallen heroes by marching for freedom."
About a dozen cars in Charlotte took part in a rolling rally by making a loop around SouthPark Mall on Monday. The cars honked their horns and displayed messages on the windows to protest the current restrictions on businesses in North Carolina.
North Carolina moved into the modified phase two reopening plan on Friday at 5 p.m.
Restaurants, hair salons, and barbershops were allowed to reopen at 50% capacity with strict safety protocols, but gyms and bars, which were part of the state’s original plan for phase two, remain closed.
"We've only been given 50% of our freedom, and that's not acceptable,” said Nikki Pratt Nunley, admin for Reopen Mecklenburg County and organizer for Reopen NC. “We are demanding 100% freedom with businesses being able to reopen."
Governor Cooper said last week that the data did not support moving forward with the plan originally outlined.
"The increase in COVID-19 cases signal a need to take a more modest step forward in phase two than originally envisioned,” Cooper said last Wednesday in a news conference.
Supporters of Reopen NC believe the data does not support the damage being done to the economy.
"It's ridiculous that you can, you can go out to eat,” Pratt Nunley said. “You can send your kids to overnight camp, yet we're not allowed to, to adhere by the social distancing guidelines at the gym and wipe things down and make our own choices."
Burn Boot Camp in Matthews opened up to clients on Monday, despite current state orders.
Josh Rudolph, the owner of the Matthews location, said the move was completely personal and has nothing to do with politics.
"In no way is this, hey, sticking it to anybody,” Rudolph said. “We're here to do it the right way. We're here to show you what we're capable of doing and providing for everybody along with the guidelines that we've been suggested, provided."
Each spot on the mat is marked off six feet apart, and clients will stay in the same spot for the entire boot camp. After the session is over, each station is disinfected.
"We're ensuring safety,” Rudolph said. “We're ensuring regulations, but we're also bringing health, not only physical but mental as well."
Gym and fitness studio owners across the state have started a GoFundMe page, seeking donations to take legal action against the state.
Fitness facilities would not be able to reopen under the current state plan until phase three, which isn’t expected to start until at least June 26.
Rudolph said he believes by reopening now that Burn Boot Camp Matthews is doing more good for his clients, both physically and mentally, than detriment by reopening.
“Bringing things back again, slowly, effectively, in the correct way is how we need to live our lives,” Rudolph said. “We cannot stop forever.”
In a statement to WCNC Charlotte, Burn Boot Camp's corporate office said:
"At Burn Boot Camp, the health and safety of our communities continue to be a priority. As states continue to formulate their reopening plans, we have been advising our Franchise Partners the importance of adhering to all state and local government guidelines and regulations.
Today, we were made aware that one of our gyms had reopened in Matthews, North Carolina. This early reopening is not an action that was encouraged by Burn Boot Camp Headquarters. This went against our direction to all Franchise Partners, which is to abide by government mandates for proper reopening timing.
While we are confident in the enhanced safety and cleaning measures that Burn has put in place to keep members safe, and while we can sympathize with the difficult position of all of our Franchise Partners and businesses impacted by the pandemic, we cannot condone reopening before state and local government approval has been provided.
We have spoken with Burn Boot Camp Matthews today and are working with the location to properly cease all gym operations."