Friday, demonstrators in Rochester called for businesses closed due to the coronavirus pandemic to be reopened.

Organizers for the ReStart ROC rally argue the state overstepped by requiring non-essential workers to stay home during the pandemic, and that the move caused hardships for workers across the state.

Mackenzie Campbell of Walworth was one of those in attendance. She believes upstate should not be held to the same standard as downstate, where cases of the virus are more prevalent.

“Why are we being treated the same way as downstate when we haven’t had as many cases and we’re losing our jobs and we don’t have the freedoms to move around like we should be able to?” she asked.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo has said some businesses in the state could reopen as soon as May 15 amid the pandemic, depending on the virus’ local impact and on the essential nature of a given profession. This week, local hospitals were given the go-ahead to resume elective surgeries, which had been postponed due to the pandemic.

— WHAM 13