[IAmEveryone]

You’re disproving your point by noting the Times speaking against this, showing that it was never more than a ridiculous minority opinion.

Additionally, enough time has now passed to assess the danger of these protests. Considering they mostly happened in the large cities of the north, there is absolutely no evidence that they had any major effect in the resurgence of the virus, which is mostly spreading in the south and west. Even there, rural areas are often hit harder than cities.