A Newburgh tattoo parlor marked its reopening Saturday in defiance of New York's phased reopening plan.

A freedom rally was held in front of Casa di Dolores in downtown Newburgh as the parlor reopened. Attendees waved American flags and the Declaration of Independence was on display.

Owner Roberto Minuta opened the parlor despite the state's orders.

"We're standing in defiance of these executive orders because they're destroying people's lives," said Minuta. "At the end of the day, we're here for our rights and will not let them be abolished."

Minuta says that he shut down the parlor on March 13 and has struggled financially, but that the reopening is about freedom.

Standing with him were members from the community and Oath Keepers, an anti-government organization. The group's founder, Stewart Rhodes, traveled all the way from Texas to show his support and became the shop's first client of the day.

"Anytime an American stands up for our constitution, it's incredibly important that we support them," said Rhodes.

"These are executive orders, they're against every right we have and every right this country was founded on," Minuta says. "I believe that it is the least I can do, stand up for these rights that so many died for, at the very least -- and I'm willing to take a chance at whatever may come of this because of that."

In response to the Newburgh tattoo parlor opening without state permission, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said yesterday that "it's not up to you when you open, you have to follow the law or you will be closed."

Minuta could also face fines up to $1,000 but so far there have been no repercussions.