Protestors in Michigan Walk Into Capital Building Demanding End of Shelter in Place Order

Protesters in Michigan entered the State Capitol building Thursday to convince the state legislature not to extend the governor’s stay-at-home order. 

Tension in Michigan Escalates 

State legislators were meeting in the state’s Capitol building on Thursday to discuss the possibility of extending Michigan’s state of emergency, which was declared on March 10. The legislature’s decision, however, will not affect Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s stay-at-home order, which is set to last until May 15, although it could affect her emergency powers in the future. 

Hundreds of protesters, some without masks and some armed, went inside the building and demanded to be let into the chambers, shouting “Vote no!” in the hopes of reaching the state legislature. 

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

“As long as the person is carrying the firearm with lawful intent and the firearm is not concealed,” anyone can legally carry a firearm in public in Michigan, the state police said. 

Tiffany Brown – a spokeswoman for Gov. Whitmer, said that the governor respects the right to protest, although he does not support people putting themselves or others in danger, as well as potentially exposing themselves to the coronavirus. 

Thursday morning marked more than 40,000 cases of the virus in Michigan, with more than 3,600 deaths, per the Johns Hopkins University data. Despite the numbers, Gov. Whitmer has been under attack from weeks, with many believing her anti-coronavirus measures are way too strict and costing people their livelihoods.