Protest Follows Utah Mask Mandate

Dozens gathered at the Utah governor's mansion Monday to protest new COVID-19 restrictions put in place by Governor Gary Herbert as part of an effort to halt a rapid rise of infections in the state. KSL's Matt Rascon reports.

(KSL/NBC News) — Dozens of protesters gathered outside of the Utah governor’s mansion Monday to demonstrate against new COVID-19 restrictions put in place by Governor Gary Herbert.

“We cannot afford to debate this issue any longer,” Herbert said during an emergency announcement Sunday night.

The mandates require Utahns to wear masks in public. Businesses will be required to make their employees wear masks and encourage patrons to do the same. Those that don’t comply could face fines.

“It just was another validation of how he’s overstepping his bounds,” said protester Mike Brown.

“The First Amendment says we have the right to peaceably assemble and the governor cannot override that,” Brown said. “We know that the governor doesn’t have that authority. He actually works for us. And he has to abide by the U.S. Constitution as well.”

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