‘Hang Fauci, Hang Gates’ sign held at Open New York protest

A protester at an Open New York rally last week that was praised by President Trump held up a sign reading “Hang Fauci, Hang Gates.”

The sign seemingly refers to the nation’s top infectious disease expert Anthony Fauci, a member of the White House coronavirus task force, and Bill Gates, a billionaire philanthropist donating funds to aid coronavirus research and issuing warnings about the pandemic. 

The Huffington Post noted the sign in a story it wrote that was based on reporting at the scene by News 12 Long Island, which captured the images of the sign at the rally held last week on Long Island. It stated “Hang Fauci, Hang Gates, Open up all our states.”

A tweet from the reporter on the criticism he took at the rally also went viral.

I’ll probably never forget what happened today.
I was insulted. I was berated. I was practically chased by people who refused to wear masks in the middle of a pandemic.
All the while, I was there to tell THEIR story. Here’s the finished product. pic.twitter.com/HV2Hrcs7gi

— Kevin Vesey (@KevinVesey) May 14, 2020

Trump shared support for the rally held in Commack, as well as for protesters who confronted News 12 reporter Kevin Vesey. 

“FAKE NEWS IS NOT ESSENTIAL,” Trump tweeted on Friday, retweeting Vesey’s tweet and video about the “anger directed at the media.” 

“FAKE NEWS IS NOT ESSENTIAL!”https://t.co/5286zgRVWQ

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 16, 2020

“People can’t get enough of this. Great people!” Trump tweeted again Saturday, again along with the video and Vesey’s tweet. 

People can’t get enough of this. Great people! https://t.co/b4HM0C298h

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 16, 2020

In addition to signs calling to open up New York, some protesters were seen holding “Trump” flags, as well as wearing T-shirts with the president’s name and hats with the president’s 2016 campaign slogan “Make America Great Again.” 

New York is the epicenter of the coronavirus pandemic, with more than 350,121 confirmed COVID-19 cases statewide, according to state data. 

In Suffolk County, where the protest was held, there are 38,117 confirmed COVID-19 cases, according to state data.