WATCH: Armed Protest Breaks out Against Michigan’s Ridiculous Emergency Measures
By NBC News. Hundreds of people protested outside the Michigan Capitol building in Lansing on Thursday, with some pushing inside while the Legislature was debating an extension of Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s state of emergency in response to the coronavirus pandemic.
Protesters held signs, waved American flags and even carried firearms, while some chanted “Let us in!” and “This is the people’s house, you cannot lock us out.” Others tried to get onto the House floor but were blocked by state police and sergeants-at-arms, according to NBC affiliate WDIV of Detroit. . .
Michigan United for Liberty organized the protest, dubbed the American Patriot Rally, to call for the reopening of businesses.
Protest moves inside Michigan Capitol. Crowd attempts to get onto Hoise floor. Lots of Michigan State Police and House sergeants at arms blocking door. pic.twitter.com/4FNQpimP4W
— Rod Meloni (@RodMeloni) April 30, 2020
State lawmakers, who are Republican-led in both chambers, on Thursday night declined to extend the state’s emergency declaration before it expired at midnight. Instead, they voted to bring a lawsuit to challenge Whitmer’s authority and actions to fight the coronavirus pandemic.
The Democratic governor quickly issued new orders stating that an emergency still exists, while also declaring new 28-day states of emergency and disaster. (Read more from “Armed Protest Breaks out Against Michigan’s Ridiculous Emergency Measures” HERE)
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Michigan Protesters Storm State Capitol in Fight Over Coronavirus Rules
By Fox News. Dozens of protesters, some of whom were armed, gathered Thursday inside Michigan’s Capitol building to voice their opposition to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s stay-at-home order, with tensions high as lawmakers were poised to debate an extension of an emergency and disaster declaration.
Holding American flags and handmade signs, the demonstrators in Lansing first congregated shoulder-to-shoulder outside before demanding to be let inside the building. Some chanted “Let us in,” The Detroit News reported.
Dennis Sigler, 66, of Mason, told the newspaper he attended the protest out of respect for others and not because he was worried about the COVID-19.
“I love freedom,” he said. “In America, we should be free. Don’t let them try to protect us from ourselves.”
State Sen. Dayna Polehanki, a Democrat, tweeted a photo of what she described as armed demonstrators yelling above her. She said some of her colleagues were wearing “bullet proof vests” inside the House chamber.
Directly above me, men with rifles yelling at us. Some of my colleagues who own bullet proof vests are wearing them. I have never appreciated our Sergeants-at-Arms more than today. #mileg pic.twitter.com/voOZpPYWOs
— Senator Dayna Polehanki (@SenPolehanki) April 30, 2020
(Read more from “Michigan Protesters Storm State Capitol in Fight Over Coronavirus Rules” HERE)
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