Michigan demonstrators stage anti-lockdown haircut protest

Michigan police have issued disorderly conduct citations to people who ignored warnings to stop cutting hair during an anti-lockdown protest.

Jody Hebberd, left, gives a free haircut to Reid Scott, as he reads the paper on the steps of the State Capitol in Lansing, Michigan. Source: AP

Hundreds of demonstrators in the US state of Michigan have protested stay-at-home orders by gathering for haircuts in front of the Michigan capital building.

Around 300 people attended Wednesday's protest dubbed "Operation Haircut", according to local police estimates.

The demonstrators flouted local public health orders for barber shops to stay closed to blunt the spread of the novel coronavirus.

"Seven people were cited for disorderly conduct after ignoring warnings to stop cutting hair," the Michigan State Police said in a tweet.

All of the 50 US states have eased their lockdown measures to some extent, with Republican-led states largely easing public health restrictions quicker than Democrat-led states.

Protests have increased against lockdown orders around the nation, while taking on an increasingly partisan tone.

Barbers and hair stylists are protesting the states stay-at-home orders in Lansing, Michigan. Source: AP

US President Donald Trump has urged states to quickly proceed with reopening their economies and lashed out at Democratic governors, despite warnings from top public health officials that the country could face a second wave of the novel coronavirus if lockdown orders are eased too quickly.

The US leads the world in reported coronavirus cases at over 1.5 million infections, and more than 93,000 deaths, according to a Johns Hopkins University tally.

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