Open the States is a website associated with
Convention of States Project, also known as Convention of States Action,[1][2][3] an "ad-hoc coalition" of individuals who want government to end some or all of the restrictions on economic activity and public life that were imposed as a response to the
COVID-19 pandemic in the United States.[4] Convention of States Action's parent organization is
Citizens for Self-Governance.[4] According to Politico, "The Convention of States' efforts are among several national conservative groups, such as
FreedomWorks, that have helped organize
anti-lockdown protests across the country."[2]Center for Media and Democracy said Citizens for Self-Governance "does business as the Convention of States Foundation (COSF)";[1]Boston University's BU Today stated "Convention of States created a sock puppet organization called Open the States to hide their role in the campaign".[5]
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Alex Kotch (April 22, 2020), Groups Aligned with Right-Wing Megadonors Are Promoting Coronavirus Protests,
Center for Media and Democracy, Convention of States Action (COSA) is a project of the right-wing nonprofit, Citizens for Self-Governance, and has a web page devoted to its new initiative, "Open the States".