BOONE, N.C. — In the midst of a new curfew by Gov. Roy Cooper asking North Carolinians to remain inside their homes between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m., two social media groups are speaking out. Stay Home NC along with ReOpenNC have been two groups that have remained vocal throughout the pandemic.

ReOpenNC was started by Ashley Smith, and the group has held many protests during the pandemic, including one this past Friday. Members stood outside at 10:01 p.m. against the curfew.

Smith says it is essential to display these acts as she finds the curfew unlawful.

Stay Home NC Founder Michael Morgan disagrees and says the curfew, while not a solution to the virus, can in fact help. Morgan says his mother could have potentially permanent damage in her lungs due to the virus, so he hopes others continue taking it seriously and continue to social distance.

"We have to get to a point where we can start rolling out the vaccine and to get there we have to start working on these numbers and this new curfew is a start. I don't think its a full answer but it's a start," Morgan says.

Morgan believes there is a light at the end of the tunnel and hopes people follow this rule.

Smith says group members will continue to be holding protests of the curfew as she finds it essential to save small businesses and protect the rights of North Carolinians.