'Operation Gridlock': Thousands gather at Michigan state capitol to protest Democrat governor's stay-at-home orderWashington Examiner, Apr 15, 2020
As snow fell across the state of Michigan, thousands of residents gathered around the state capitol building in Lansing to protest Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's stay-at-home order.
Cars streamed into the capital Wednesday morning as part of "Operation Gridlock," a protest against Whitmer's executive decision to shutter businesses in an attempt to slow the spread of the coronavirus. Protesters say Whitmer has endangered their economic futures and demand answers as to the length and necessity of the shelter-in-place decree.
"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 spokesman for the Michigan Conservative Coalition. "Safe businesses and safe workers need to get back to work."
Officials with the Conservative Coalition said they have instructed all participants to remain in cars and adhere to social distancing guidelines although video from on-scene shows citizens milling about outside of vehicles. Michigan State Police have reportedly been told to stand down and not arrest the protesters for refusing to follow the public gathering ban.
Whitmer has been the focus of heavy criticism after she changed her stance on allowing state healthcare workers to prescribe the anti-malaria drug hydroxychloroquine to treat coronavirus patients. The Detroit metro area has been one of the hardest-hit areas in the Unite States with the Johns Hopkins University coronavirus tracker recording more than 20,000 cases of the coronavirus.
“People are basically being told what they can and can’t buy at stores," Conservative Coalition member Matt Seely told News 8. "Nothing makes sense. You can buy a bottle of liquor, but you can’t buy a gallon of paint.â€
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