Around 100 protesters gathered outside of West Town Mall in Knoxville yesterday in favor of reopening the economy and to express frustration with the continued closure of some businesses. The group in Knoxville was made up mostly of small business owners and furloughed employees claiming their constitutional rights are being infringed upon.

A different group of protesters gathered outside the Tennessee capitol in Nashville to pressure Governor Bill Lee to loosen Stay-At-Home orders.

Other protests were held yesterday in Chattanooga and Cookeville.

Last week Governor Lee extended the stay at home order, mandating non-essential businesses to remain closed until April 30, 2020. According to the state health department yesterday, 148 died in Tennessee from COVID-19 and over 700 remain hospitalized.