On April 15, the state of Michigan made national news when a group called Michigan Conservative Coalition led a protest that brought over 10,000 vehicles to the state’s capital city of Lansing, to protest draconian lockdown measures by MI Governor Gretchen Whitmer (D).
Instead of listening to the concerns of her constituents, Michigan’s recently elected governor, who’s on Joe Biden’s shortlist for VP, lashed out at protesters, most of whom remained inside their vehicles, accusing them of spreading coronavirus, and threatening to extend lockdown orders over their irresponsible protest. Whitmer called the people desperate to open their businesses and go back to work, “political.”
“When you see a, you know, a political rally — that’s what it was yesterday — a political rally like that, where people aren’t wearing masks, and they’re in close quarters, and they’re touching one another, you know that that’s precisely what makes this kind of a disease drag out and expose more people,” Whitmer told MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow adding, “We might have to actually think about extending stay-at-home orders, which is supposedly what they were protesting,”
Watch:
WATCH: Gov. Whitmer tells @Maddow that Wednesday's protest at Michigan's Capitol is the “kind of irresponsible action that puts us in this situation where we might have to actually think about extending stay-at-home orders, which is supposedly what they protesting." pic.twitter.com/WxVtTVEeia
— MSNBC (@MSNBC) April 17, 2020
VP wannabe, Governor Gretchen Whitmer also recorded a message for protesters, many of whom have destroyed businesses and wreaked havoc across the state. For the violent rioters, and for the peaceful George Floyd protesters, Whitmer took a much different tone.
To the good people of Michigan: we see you. We hear you. Your voice is what drives change now and always.
All of us must be the relief. We must organize. We must speak truth to power. We will get through this together. pic.twitter.com/ev9Yq092H5
— Governor Gretchen Whitmer (@GovWhitmer) May 31, 2020
On Friday night, violence erupted in Detroit, MI as protesters took the streets. A 19-year-old protester was shot and killed during a live televised local Fox broadcast.
DETROIT: 19-Yr-Old Shot and Killed In Drive-By-Shooting During LIVE TV Coverage Of Protests [VIDEO]
On Saturday night, violent protests broke out in Grand Rapids, MI.
Here are just a few examples of the “peaceful protests” Governor Whitmer refused to address:
#BREAKING: Businesses in Grand Rapids, MI are now being damaged. What was once a peaceful protest has turned into a riot. pic.twitter.com/7UrM6dcOfv
— Brennan Prill ⚡︎ (@WxBrenn) May 31, 2020
https://twitter.com/Breaking911/status/1267481639522795520?s=20
Last night, riots erupted in Lansing, MI, as cars were set on fire, the windows to a Chase Bank were busted out in broad daylight and police were forced to use tear gas on protesters.
Here’s a look at Lansing, MI, last night. Governor Whitmer lives in Lansing but has yet to comment on the violence.
Here’s a look at when things went wrong tonight in Lansing. @WLNS #LansingProtest #riots2020 pic.twitter.com/Fj4PzLF9Xu
— Brittany Flowers (@brittflowerstv) June 1, 2020
Protesters smashed out the front of Chase bank in downtown Lansing. #LansingProtest pic.twitter.com/kxPnDKo8pR
— Brittany Flowers (@brittflowerstv) June 1, 2020
For several days, Michigan’s radical, the far-left governor has remained silent about the threat posed to Michiganders over the spread of coronavirus in one of the states most devastated by the pandemic.
Instead of warning that she would extend her shutdown order for the sixth time, Governor Whitmer, instead, just announced that she’s lifting her most recent lockdown order, effective today.
Gov. Whitmer has lifted Michigan's stay-at-home order. The state is in Phase 4 "improving".
Goal is to shift to Phase 5 "containing" before July 4
– Restaurants can offer dine-in starting June 8
– Groups of up to 100 allowedMore: https://t.co/OvOQ1Q2aOy
— Kellie Rowe (@kellierowe) June 1, 2020
Suddenly, protesters gathering in large groups are no longer a threat.
BREAKING: Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has lifted the stay-at-home order for the entire state, meaning restaurants, and much more will be able to reopen as the spread of the coronavirus slows.
— Sierra Searcy (@SierraSearcyTV) June 1, 2020