Michigan protesters taking part in “Operation Gridlock” on Wednesday to demonstrate against Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s stay-at-home order chanted, “Lock her up,” and “We will not comply.”
Thousands of protesters flooded the streets of Lansing in their cars while flying “Trump 2020” and American flags to protest coronavirus-focused restrictions they said are excessive. Many got out of their cars and on to the lawn of the state Capitol building.
Updated traffic view: pic.twitter.com/9nxbtILN9a
— Craig Mauger (@CraigDMauger) April 15, 2020
The protest in Lansing has already started pic.twitter.com/j7IRUEQagp
— Rick Albin (@RickAlbinWoodTV) April 15, 2020
Some images from the protest so far pic.twitter.com/oNn4HA7mNt
— Mikenzie Frost (@MikenzieFrost) April 15, 2020
“There is no reason why she can’t be looking at some safe ways to be opening up businesses. Instead of talking about what’s essential and nonessential, let’s talk about what’s safe and not safe,” said Meshawn Maddock, a spokeswoman for the Michigan Conservative Coalition. “Safe businesses and safe workers need to get back to work.”
Whitmer last week extended social distancing guidelines in Michigan through the end of April and also banned the sale of nonessential goods, including clothing, gardening seeds, and car seats.
Whitmer said the move was critical and must be taken to slow the spread of the virus and save lives.
An online petition to recall Whitmer has gained traction as people in the state express frustration with the Democrat’s handling of the pandemic.
“She has lied since day one with her #Fixthedamnroads which she has failed to do anything in this regards,” the petition reads. “The response to #PFAS was negligence and completely removing funding for #PureMichigan clearly shows her lack of anything positive for the State of Michigan.”
Michigan Rep. Justin Amash, a former Republican who is now an independent, was among those denouncing Whitmer’s stay-at-home order as not beneficial to the people.
“Several recent measures provide marginal benefits at best while substantially heightening frustration and resentment,” Amash said. “Sensible instructions to practice social distancing, wear masks, and stay at home already do most of the work to reduce the virus’s spread. By pushing too far, the governor undermines her own authority and increases the likelihood people will not follow reasonable guidelines.”
Whitmer responded to the protests, saying, “It wasn’t really about the stay-at-home order at all. It was essentially a political rally, a political statement that flies in the face of all of the science, all of the best practices in the stay-at-home order that was issued. This was a political rally … that is going to endanger people’s lives because this is precisely how COVID-19 spreads.”
