(Photo: Marchers at the George Floyd protest June 5 in the French Quarter. | NOPD)
Organizers have planned a march on Saturday to protest New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell’s restrictions on the city’s live entertainment and bar industries due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Update, 9/19/20, 3:04 p.m. CST: It appears the protest organizers have backed out and removed the event page from Facebook.
Organizers Chaos, a New Orleans area emcee, and local singer Shawn Williams, area calling on bar workers, including band members, bartenders, shot girls and even those in those industries outside of the city to meet near the corner of Bourbon and Canal streets at 3 p.m.
Dubbed #saveOURcity, the organizers are demanding Cantrell find a solution to reopen bars and live music venues that have been closed since March, since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic.
The march is organized via Facebook. More information can be found here.
Cantrell issued a shutdown order March 16, requiring the closure of all bars and nightclubs until further notice as a measure to contain spread of the coronavirus.
Although bars remained closed even after a phased reopening began in late May, early June, they were allowed to sell to-go alcoholic beverages. Cantrell suspended to-go alcohol on July 25, effectively closing bars all together, although many are now acquiring restaurant licenses in order to reopen.
“We have all been unjustifiable denied our living in this city, parish, and state,” the organizers wrote. “Everybody is waiting for someone or something so they join in and stop this mess that this lady is making of our community! I challenge you, all of you, get off the damn couch and let’s demand our lively hoods back!”
Read the full statement here.
Social distancing and masks are not required, according to the organizers.
A route has not yet been determined.