A group of about 20 people sat on the lawn of the Spokane County Courthouse on Sunday afternoon exercising their right to assemble in protest of Washington Gov. Jay Inslee’s “Stay Home, Stay Healthy” order.

While the majority of the protestors declined to speak with The Spokesman-Review, organizer Brian Forrilla said the event was intended to allow like-minded people to meet. The gathering near downtown Spokane was much more sparsely attended than a protest in Olympia, where hundreds showed up to hear from conservative lawmakers and Inslee’s political opponents calling for an end to shutdown orders.

The group of people who attended Sunday were also opposed government measures taken to reduce the spread of COVID-19, including shutting down businesses and closing public parks.

“Seems like they’re taking 100 things away from us and only giving back 90,” Forrilla said.

As a bartender in Spokane, Forrilla is out of work due to the pandemic.

Forrilla said he is worried that grocery stores will be told to close next or that the supply chain will be shut down, though elected officials at the state and federal level have said neither will happen.

“People don’t even know how to change a tire,” Forrilla said. “They aren’t going to know how to get their own food.”

Forrilla also said he doesn’t believe the virus is as contagious as public health officials say it is.

He’s not worried about contracting the virus “because I have an immune system. It’s much stronger than you think.”

The gathering, Forrilla said, wasn’t related to any political party. He said he doesn’t vote.

As more people showed up, Forrilla chatted with them on the lawn of the courthouse about their views on the pandemic and why they decided to show up.

A sign leaned against a truck of one of the protesters, reading “Freedom lies in being bold. Ask me now!!”

The gathering wasn’t as big as he liked, Forrilla said, and he plans to continue holding them weekly on Sundays at 2 p.m. in front of the courthouse. A May 1 protest has been promoted by state Rep. Matt Shea of Spokane Valley. Shea’s message has been criticized by both Inslee and Spokane County Sheriff Ozzie Knezovich as promoting unrest during the public health crisis.

In Olympia, some protesters wore masks while others waved American flags and pushed baby strollers. Hundreds of people gathered at the state Capitol, holding signs that read “End the Shutdown” and “Give Me Liberty or Give Me Covid 19!”

Tyler Miller, one of the event organizers, had said rural areas should be treated differently than more urban locations with more coronavirus cases. He also said Inslee’s decisions on what constitutes essential businesses has been unfair and unconstitutional.

At the rally, Miller spoke to attendees through a bullhorn: “We cannot have a government and a governor that does not listen to his own citizens.”

Inslee addressed the protesters on Twitter on Sunday afternoon, saying he appreciated concerns about reopening businesses but continued closures were necessary to help stop the spread of the virus.

“I support free speech. But crowd counts or speeches won’t determine our course,” Inslee tweeted Sunday afternoon. “This isn’t about politics. It can only be about doing what is best for the health of all Washingtonians.”

Washington has more than 11,800 confirmed virus cases and at least 624 deaths, according to the state Department of Health.

Information from the Associated Press was used in this report.