In photos: Americans rally to protest social distancing amid corona virus pandemic

Protesters gathered at state capitols in Washington and in Colorado Sunday to oppose the state closures of businesses and schools designed to slow the spread of the coronavirus by enforcing social distancing. Similar protests were staged in California, Texas and New Hampshire on Friday and Saturday.

Demonstrators gather in front of the Colorado State Capitol building for a "reopen Colorado" rally in Denver on April 19. Photo: Jason Connolly/AFP via Getty Images

Why it matters: Leading coronavirus modeling shows the country's collective sacrifice of an economic shutdown — which has resulted in 22 million jobless claims — has likely prevented hundreds of thousands of deaths, serving as a sign that social distancing is working.

Yes, but: The U.S. cannot afford to stay in lockdown until a cure or vaccine arrives. Safely reopening communities and economies requires information that is currently difficult to find.

Flashback: President Trump began fueling reopening protests in Michigan, Minnesota and Virginia on Friday via Twitter.

Hundreds of protesters demonstrate outside the state Capitol to speak out against against Washington Gov. Inslee's stay-at-home order on April 19. Photo: Alex Milan Tracy/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

New Hampshire residents rally at the State House in Concord on April 18, calling on the government to re-open the state for business. Photo: Joseph Prezioso/AFP via Getty Images

Jessica Lilly, right, with her children aged 7 and 4, join a crowd gathered at the corner of Main Street and Walnut Avenue in Huntington Beach, Calif., to protest state closures on April 17. Photo: Jeff Gritchen/MediaNews Group/Orange County Register via Getty Images

Sarah Mason joins a crowd at Huntington Beach, Calif., to protest state closures on April 17. Photo: Jeff Gritchen/MediaNews Group/Orange County Register via Getty Images

Police officers watch the crowd at Huntington Beach, Calif. as they protest state closures on April 17. Photo: Jeff Gritchen/MediaNews Group/Orange County Register via Getty Images

Protestors in Huntington Beach, Calif. protest state closures on April 17. Photo: Jeff Gritchen/MediaNews Group/Orange County Register via Getty Images

Protesters yell in unison when Infowars' Alex Jones arrives for an April 18 protest at the State Capitol in Austin, Texas. Photo: Mark Felix/AFP via Getty Images

A protestor in Austin, Texas on April 18. Photo: Sergio Flores/Getty Images

Protesters at the Texas State Capital on April 18 in Austin, Texas. Photo: Sergio Flores/Getty Images

Hundreds of New Hampshire residents rally at the State House in Concord on April 18, calling on the government to re-open the state. Photo: Joseph Prezioso/AFP via Getty Images

Hundreds of New Hampshire residents rally at the State House in Concord on April 18, calling on the government to reopen the state. Photo: Joseph Prezioso/AFP via Getty Images

Hundreds of New Hampshire residents rally at the State House in Concord on April 18, calling on the government to re-open the state. Photo: Joseph Prezioso/AFP via Getty Images

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