‘Reopen Minnesota’ Facebook Group Grows To Over 23,000 Strong

A Facebook Group called 'Reopen Minnesota' has gained support with over 23,000 members since being launched on April 14. They've added over 10,000 new members this week alone.

Their mission is to make legislatures reopen the economy after Minnesota Governor Tim Walz extended his original  shelter in place order on April 10 amid COVID-19 concerns.

The group calls the governor's actions, "excessive quarantine." In their 'About' section on Facebook, it says:

It's time to OPEN OUR STATE and STOP Gov Walz' Excessive Quarantine! Politicians are on a power trip, controlling our lives, destroying our business, passing laws behind the cover of darkness and forcing us to hand over our freedoms and our livelihood!"

They encourage all of their members to send and email to Gov. Walz on the ReOpen MN website.

Protesters started gathering outside of the Governor's mansion last weekend to voice their concerns. Their efforts were recognized by President Donald Trump in a Tweet he wrote saying, 'Liberate Minnesota."

On Monday President Trump followed up his Tweet with, "Received a very nice call from @GovTimWalz of Minnesota. We are working closely on getting him all he needs, and fast. Good things happening!"

According to KROC out of Rochester,"19 Minnesotans died from the virus Tuesday, the most ever for a 24-hour period. The death toll has risen to 179."

In the governor's Wednesday press conference he announced a "breakthrough" in COVID-19 testing. They'll now be able to test up to 20,000 Minnesotans a day.

Walz said, "This is not a state that's going to just get through COVID-19. This is a state that's going to lead this nation and the world out of this," Gov. Walz said.