A swarm of protesters gathered today at Huntington Beach, California to defy the 10 p.m. curfew in purple tier zones (94% of Californian counties) ordered by Californian Gov. Gavin Newsom. The motives behind the mandate were to discourage individuals from attending social gatherings and drinking alcohol, which they say could help decrease the spread of the contagious COVID-19.

Crowds could be seen waving MAGA and American flags as they stood in the streets, filled with the noises of cars honking. The rally was publicized by Bill Melugin, a well-known reporter at Fox 11 LA.

The sheriff’s department has said publicly that they would not enforce the governor’s directive. The protest was mostly law-abiding, with the exception of an arrest because of intoxication. This protest was most likely the buildup of questioning and concern from those who have followed the governor’s authority and policies, especially after his birthday party visit, defying his own directives. Others also questioned why he dissolved his task force despite an uptick in infections.