Logo

1 of 7
A protester tosses a surgical mask into the fire during a mask burning event at the Idaho Statehouse on March 6, 2021 in Boise, Idaho.
A protester tosses a mask into the fire during a mask burning event at the Idaho Statehouse on March 6, 2021 in Boise, Idaho.Nathan Howard/Getty Images
Young attendees toss masks into a fire during a mask burning event at the Idaho Statehouse on March 6, 2021 in Boise, Idaho.
Young attendees toss masks into a fire during a mask burning event at the Idaho Statehouse on March 6, 2021 in Boise, Idaho.Nathan Howard/Getty Images
Advertisement
Attendees toss dozens of masks into a fire pit during a mask burning event at the Idaho Statehouse on March 6, 2021 in Boise, Idaho.
Attendees toss dozens of masks into a fire pit during a mask burning event at the Idaho Statehouse on March 6, 2021 in Boise, Idaho. Nathan Howard/Getty Images
A protester writes “BIDEN SUCKS” on a mask during a mask burning event at the Idaho Statehouse on March 6, 2021 in Boise, Idaho.
A protester writes "BIDEN SUCKS" on a mask during a mask burning event at the Idaho Statehouse on March 6, 2021 in Boise, Idaho.Nathan Howard/Getty Images
Idaho Lieutenant Governor Janice McGeachin speaks during a mask burning event at the Idaho Statehouse on March 6, 2021 in Boise, Idaho.
Idaho Lieutenant Governor Janice McGeachin speaks during a mask burning event at the Idaho Statehouse on March 6, 2021 in Boise, Idaho.Nathan Howard/Getty Images
Advertisement

Sign up for our special edition newsletter to get a daily update on the coronavirus pandemic.

Protesters in Idaho staged a mask burning event at the state capital on Saturday, as frustration over coronavirus-related disruptions to daily life continue to fester.

At least three lawmakers from the state legislature and the Lt. Gov Janice McGeachin were there to cheer them on, according to local media reports from the scene.

Video posted to Twitter suggests that most of the actual burning of masks took place inside small, self-contained fires lit in garbage bins. At least one person was filmed burning a picture of Joe Biden.

Many protesters, often with children in tow, displayed signs reading “I will not self-suffocate,”

“We’re standing here today to rein back government. To reestablish our Republican form of government, a government that has balance between the branches,” said Daar Moon, a protest organizer, in a Twitter video. “It’s a widespread grassroots movement, an uprising in that regard, it’s come off very well today here in Boise.”

Last week Idaho legislators introduced a bill to make mask mandates illegal. Though there is no current statewide requirement, mask mandates are in force in seven of 11 Idaho counties, according to the Associated Press.

Comments
anonymous profile image
Powered by RoundtableBuilt on infrastructure designed for real-time media. Learn more at RTB.io.© Roundtable 2026. By using this site you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy