With no end in sight for shelter-in-place orders…. Thousands of protesters rolled up to Michigan’s capitol…...Blasting their frustrations at Governor Gretchen Whitmer.
“I know people are angry, and that’s fine. ... I support your right to free speech. But please don’t put yourselves and others at risk. ... We know this rally endangered people. This kind of rally put people at risk. … I’m just asking you to do your part not to spread COVID-19," Whitmer said.
Americans in more than 40 states are under shelter-in-place orders, and political analysts believe protests like this will continue popping up across the country -- possibly with some serious ramifications.
"My guess is that … if they are successful with these protests at this point and the governors relent slightly, there’s a chance the virus could come to their areas,” Joel Aberbach said.
Michigan residents, like Rebecca Eicher, say any risk of a mass protest spreading the virus is outweighed by the need to defend constitutional rights.
“The issue revolving around the executive order and sort of the extreme nature of the executive order. If you take a look at all the different aspects of it, they don't align with the sort of health care policy need. And I think that's what's making people from Michigan very concerned.”
The protest in Lansing, the state’s capital, was promoted on social media by the Michigan Freedom Fund.
“The governor's order that she handed down on Thursday wasn't just an extension of the stay-home order from several weeks ago, it was an extension and further ratcheting of things that citizens here in Michigan could do,” Tony Daunt said.
Whitmer’s executive order says: Individuals may also travel: 1.To return to a home or place of residence from outside this state. 2. To leave this state for a home or residence elsewhere.”
But banned travel between two residences within the state
“It lacked clarity in terms of who would apply to and what you could do, you know, things like not being able to go out on your boat if it has a motor, but you can go kayak. You can't go to Home Depot and get, you know, if you're at Home Depot, you can't get garden seeds or paint to work on your house,” Daunt said.
Rally organizers asked protesters to remain in their cars, but not everyone complied.
“We want to base our decisions on facts and science. … As tough as this is, we know we don’t want to go through this again," Whitmer said.
Terace Garnier. Newsy. Washington.
