Hundreds gather at Capitol to protest vaccine mandates

Hundreds of people poured onto the lawn of the Minnesota State Capitol on Saturday to voice their opposition to vaccine and mask mandates.

Some health care workers were joined by others at the "Medical Freedom Rally." The group was outside the Minnesota State Fairgrounds earlier in the morning before moving to the Capitol.

Many major health care companies in the Twin Cities — such as Hennepin HealthCare, Allina Health and Fairview Health Services — have required COVID-19 vaccinations for their workers. They point to guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and research that shows the vaccines are effective against severe cases of COVID-19.