Thousands protest gov’s stay-at-home order

Thousands of flagwaving, honking protesters drove past the Michigan Capitol to show their displeasure with Gov Gretchen Whitmer’s orders to keep people at home and businesses locked during the coronavirus outbreak.

As snow fell on Wednesday, others got out of their vehicles and raised signs, one of which read, “Gov Whitmer We Are Not Prisoners”. Another said, “Michigander Against Gretchens Abuses”.

Hours later, Whitmer shot back, telling reporters that the rally put health at risk.

The “Operation Gridlock” protest was organised by the Michigan Conservative Coalition.

The ripples were widely felt: Traffic was barely moving for miles in some areas of Lansing.

“This arbitrary blanket spread of shutting down businesses, about putting all of these workers out of business, is just a disaster. It’s an economic disaster for Michigan,” coalition member Meshawn

Maddock said. “And people are sick and tired of it.”

Whitmer, a Democrat, extended a stay-home order through April 30 and has shut down schools and businesses deemed non-essential.

She acknowledged the pain but said the restrictions were necessary to stop the spread of the virus, that has killed more than 1,900 Michigan residents and overwhelmed hospitals in the Detroit area.

Whitmer said she was “really disappointed” to see protesters close together without masks.

“I saw someone handing out candy to little kids barehanded,” she told reporters.

“People are flying the Confederate flag, and untold numbers who gassed up on the way here or grabbed a bite on the way home. We know that this rally endangered people. This kind of activity will put more people at risk and, sadly, it could prolong the amount of time we have to be in this posture.”

During the rally, Republican House Speaker Lee Chatfield, who has urged Whitmer to amend her orders, waved an American flag from a window at his Capitol office.

The rally drew an estimated 3,000 to 4,000 people, said state police spokesperson Shanon Banner.

There was an arrest when one protester assaulted another. Police did ticket anyone for violations of the governor’s orders.

“The majority of demonstrators remained in their vehicles, and most of those who were on foot were practising social distancing,” Banner said. —

This kind of activity will put more people at risk and, sadly, it could prolong the amount of time we have to be in this posture.

Gretchen Whitmer