Nursing home residents in Greeley, Colorado who’ve been locked down like animals in a zoo are exercising their First Amendment right to protest decisions made by the government that they believe are unfair.

On Thursday, approximately 20 residents formed a line outside of Fairacres Manor, a nursing and rehab facility where they live. Many of the residents held signs from their wheelchairs that expressed their frustration over the cruel government-mandated lockdown. “I’d rather die from COVID than loneliness,” one of the signs read. Other signs read “Prisoners in our own home” and “Give us freedom!”

Watch:

Denver CBS Local reports – Ben Gonzales, an assistant administrator at Fairacres Manor, said the residents are upset about the COVID-19 restrictions put in place by the state health department.

“They want to be able to hug their grandchildren, they want to be able to hold the hands of their loved ones,” Gonzales said.

Gonzales said the residents are able to see visitors, but they have to stay six feet apart and can’t have any physical contact.

Gonzales told CBS4 the Fairacres Resident Council wanted their voices to be heard — and organized the protest on 16th Street.

“We used to be lucky here at Fairacres to show each other what we mean to one another and we cannot do that anymore,” said Resident Council President Sharon Peterson, who is 75. “Fairacres follows the rules and, with that, we think they would keep us safe while being able to be with our families again.”

“We did this because one thing we have to look forward to is a simple hug,” Peterson said. “It gives us meaning.”

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