Residents, local leaders attend "Mississippi Freedom Rally" over the weekend

Residents, local leaders attend "Mississippi Freedom Rally" over the weekend

- well over a hundred people- gathered at the lighthouse- pavilion in biloxi on saturday- - - - for a demonstration supporting- individual rights in the wake o- the covid-19 pandemic.- news 25's grant chighizola was- there and has more.

- - nats- flags and signs served as - outlets for people's- frustration on saturday as they- gathered to voice their - concerns.

- mississippi freedom rally - organizer e.

Brian rose says- freedom has been diminished - since restrictions on - assembly and commerce were put- in place to stop the spread - of the coronavirus.

- sot-e.

Brian rose, organizer- "politicians across the country paused the constitution - overnight, so we felt that's no- warranted, that's not allowed,- that's unconstitutional, and we- felt this was the - way for us to stand up and say- 'hey, not now, not ever again."

- - - local leaders even joined in to- serve as speakers at the- rally, including ocean springs- mayor shea dobson and state - senator jeremy england of - jackson county.

- england says the state of the - economy and economic rights - is one of the foremost concerns- right now.- sot-jeremy england, state - senator-district 51 - "there's a health component to this, obviously, but there's- also an economic- component to this, and we can't- let one jump in front of the- other to the point to - where we start our rights taken- away."

Standup-- "the main topic for attendees and speakers at the rally was - simply, freedom."

Demonstrators such as bea - harrison hope this rally serves- as a call-to-action for other - citizens across the state and - country to make their voices- heard.- sot-bea harrison: rally attende- "i hope more and more people will understand you can't sit a- - - - home any longer and say what ca- we do?

You have to get up and b- heard, that's what you have - to do."

A sentiment echoed by - organizers.

- sot-e.

Brian rose - "i think anytime our rights are threatened, that is the time fo- us to stand up and say, - - - - woah, you can't do this to us."

In biloxi, grant chighizola,-