Newsom ordered a “hard close” of Orange County beaches last week after news photographs circulated that appeared to show crowds Newport Beach and Huntington Beach. Local authorities disputed the reports, saying that aerial photographs showed that most people on the beaches were observing “social distancing.” Newport Beach authorities decided to keep the beaches open, with more law enforcement, but Newsom shut them down.
That, in turn, led to intense protests on Friday and Saturday, as local residents expressed outrage at Newsom.
