Raleigh Lockdown Protesters Carry Rocket Launcher

The Raleigh News & Observer reports:

A dozen people walked through downtown Raleigh Saturday afternoon with weapons and flags on the first full day of North Carolina’s Phase 1 — when some coronavirus-related restrictions have been loosened. The protesters are seen in photos ordering sandwiches from Subway on Fayetteville Street. One is carrying an AT4 rocket launcher, with a sticker saying “inert” on it, slung over his back. The man also has two pistols in holsters on his waist.

Another person, who is wearing a scarf face covering, carries a pump-action shotgun. In another photo, a man is sitting with a shotgun propped on a Subway bench while he has a sandwich in his hand. He is wearing a face covering. And a fourth photo shows a man taking a selfie outside the shop while holding a .50-caliber wooden prop machine gun. North Carolina is an open-carry state but is one of at least six states that bans firearms from rallies.

On my day off, I went to downtown Raleigh with @juliawall_ and took photos of these demonstrators at a Subway. Seems like they’ve gotten a bit of attention. Here’s the story behind the photos. https://t.co/MYFyxs7gXu

— Travis Long (@vizjourno) May 10, 2020

A group of about 11 mostly-armed demonstrators protesting the stay at home order marched around downtown Raleigh and ordered sandwiches at a Subway. #Covid_19 #ncpol #MealTeamSix pic.twitter.com/XA1BIU7JHH

— Travis Long (@vizjourno) May 9, 2020