A maskless crowd of roughly 2,000 people gathered Saturday at the State Capitol to protest COVID-19 restrictions and vaccine requirements.

Roughly a half-dozen Republican legislators and two candidates for governor addressed the crowd, which in turn chanted "My body, my choice," waved American flags and hoisted signs that read "Stop the Mandates," "Coercion is not Consent" and "No Jabs for Jobs."

"This issue is about choice," said Rep. Mary Franson, R-Alexandria. "Only you know what's best for your health, and only you should make a decision whether or not to inject or not inject."

The statewide mask mandate ended in May, but some local governments, businesses and school districts have independently moved since to require masks as case numbers surge across the state, triggered largely by the more infectious delta variant of the virus.

Proof of vaccination is required for state employees returning to work this fall and for students and staff on all University of Minnesota campuses. The state has left it up to individual institutions and businesses on whether to require vaccinations.

Still, speakers railed against the idea of carrying so-called vaccine passports to prove that people have either tested negative or been vaccinated against COVID. Many at the rally signed a petition to ban vaccine passports....