Woman burns mask in opposition of North Carolina governor’s mandate

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A North Carolina woman burned a face mask to show her opposition to a state order requiring that residents wear them. 

Ashley Smith, the founder of Reopen NC, posted video of herself setting fire to a mask and voicing her opposition of Gov. Roy Cooper’s mask mandate that starts Friday.

“This is another example of just a further nanny state overreach of Gov. Cooper who is spending his resources policing the movements of law abiding North Carolinians,” Smith said.

People in the state will have to wear masks in public places indoors and outdoors when physical distancing is not possible with some exceptions, WSOC-TV reported.

Smith previously started a "Burn Your Mask Challenge" on social media as state leaders mulled the decision to require masks, WSOC-TV reported. 

“I don’t see it as immature. I see it as sending a statement,” Smith said previously. “I think it’s extremely selfish to tell someone they have to wear a mask.”

There are 57,538 confirmed cases and 1,305 deaths from the coronavirus in North Carolina, according to The New York Times. 

Cox Media Group