Hundreds of protesters gathered in front of the governor’s residence in St. Paul Friday afternoon, calling for Gov. Tim Walz to reopen the economy and lift the stay-at-home order.

The rally came shortly after President Trump urged his supporters to defy Walz’s stay-at-home order, tweeting “Liberate Minnesota!”

The protest caused a traffic jam outside as cars circled the block honking horns and revving engines. People on foot waved flags and signs while singing songs like “God Bless America.”

The “Liberate Minnesota” rally was planned earlier this week and got a boost Friday morning by the president’s tweet. Police were present off of Summit Avenue, but didn’t enter the area of the protest before it came to a natural end around 3 p.m.

MPR News photojournalist Evan Frost was on site to capture the scene.

