![Protestors gather outside of Mike DeWine's mansion in Cedarville [Chris Welter / WYSO]](https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/5ee4970/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1492x946+0+0/resize/840x532!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Flegacy%2Fimages%2Fnews%2Fnpr%2F2020%2F11%2F935852559_1101134391.jpg)
Close to 50 protesters held a “Lighted Dance Party” on the street in front of Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine’s Cedarville mansion last night. There was chanting, dancing, honking and almost nobody was wearing a mask.
A number of state highway patrol vehicles, and other security, watched the protest from a distance. It was not clear if DeWine was at home during the event.
The protest was in response to a new Ohio Department of Health order limiting mass gatherings. The state’s new rules target wedding receptions, funerals and other events where people gather together. The restrictions include bans on socializing in open areas, self-serve buffets and dancing.
Audrey Caeton drove three hours from Woodsfield, Ohio, to the protest. Caeton, who owns a dog grooming business, said DeWine’s COVID-19 restrictions almost caused her business to close.
“We’re just here to tell DeWine that we are not okay with the tyrannical rules that he is still trying to implement on us," she said. "I’m a small business owner myself, and I’ve almost gone under.”
Since Saturday, more than 40 COVID deaths have been reported in Ohio and the state surpassed 300,000 total recorded cases of COVID-19.
Environmental reporter Chris Welter is a corps member with Report for America, a national service program that places journalists into local newsrooms.
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