Michigan Stay-At-Home Order Prompts Honking, Traffic-Jam Protest

Michigan Stay-At-Home Order Prompts Honking, Traffic-Jam Protest

Demonstrators jammed streets around the state capitol Wednesday, saying Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's stay-at-home order goes too far.

www.npr.org

(Archive)

Flag-waving, honking protesters drove past the Michigan Capitol on Wednesday to show their displeasure with Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's orders to keep people at home and businesses locked during the COVID-19 outbreak.
Paul Sancya/AP

Several thousand cars flooded the streets around the state capitol in Lansing, Mich. Wednesday to protest the Governor's extended Stay-At-Home order. Cars stretched nearly a quarter mile for blocks around the capitol building, filling the air with a cacophony of honking. People draped in American and "Don't Tread on Me" flags blared "We're Not Gonna Take It" and "God Bless The USA" out of car stereos.

The protest—called "Operation Gridlock"—was organized by the Michigan Conservative Coalition and drew out militias, conservatives, small business owners, and ardent supporters of President Donald Trump, who characterize the Governor's stay-at-home order as an unjust power-grab.

At least 200 people broke the instructions of organizers, getting out of their cars to congregate around the steps of the capitol building, flouting social-distancing guidelines to remain 6-feet apart, and not wearing masks.

The state of Michigan has the third highest number of COVID-19 cases and one of the most stringent stay-at-home orders. Among other things, it bars landscapers from working and shutters greenhouses and nurseries.

Democratic Governor Gretchen Whitmer has faced a steady drumbeat of criticism from senior Republican leaders in the state legislature and Republican members of Michigan's congressional delegation after extending her original order last week.


The new version of the order banned travel between homes and didn't grant exemptions for workers like landscapers, whom politicians argue can work while remaining socially distant. Protesters were also upset that normal life has been shut down all over the state.

As of Monday, more than a quarter of the state's workforce had filed for unemployment benefits.

But not all parts of the state have been equally affected by the outbreak. Southeast Michigan and Detroit remain a hotspot—claiming the lion's share of COVID-19 cases and deaths.

Opponents like Shelly Vanderwerff argue there should be regional and industry-based exemptions. She caravanned to Lansing from west Michigan, where she was recently laid-off from her work at a local greenhouse.

"Well, I don't think she's listening to petitions and people who are trying to communicate in a less extreme way that...there are small businesses that are suffering," said Vanderwerff. She's worried that many small businesses in the state will go under.

Vanderwerff noted she understands that action needs to be taken to slow the spread of COVID-19, but counties like hers—with 74 cases and 2 deaths—should be allowed to operate more freely than places like Wayne County and Detroit.

Matt Seely, a spokesman for the conservative group that organized the protest warned, "If something isn't put in place soon, you'll see in the form of a protest—businesses just opening. Because, truthfully, for the $1,000 fine, most businesses could sustain that fine because they'll at least be able to make a living."

Presently, the Governor's stay-at-home order extends through April 30th. Since the Governor issued the order, there have been more than 28,000 cases of COVID-19 in Michigan. The disease has killed more than 1,900 Michiganders.

 

[Coffee Shits]

Preview of things to come. Americans will be exiting their homes en masse come the month of May because this is America and fuck you, that's why.

 

[Just_Somebody]

When your "stay-at-home" orders becomes a mishmash of nonsense, stupidity, and government overreach, people should react in kind.

 

[millais]

"Don't Tread on Me flag" must be re.tard journo speak for "Gadsden flag"

 

[The Last Stand]

Look at all those people practicing social distancing outside.

News flash, practically the whole country is under stay at home orders. It sucks, but this COVID-19 case, you won't know if you got it for two weeks. You really want to endanger more lives, including yourselves?

Edited to remove offensive slur.

 

[heathercho]

Look at all those people practicing social distancing outside.

News flash, practically the whole country is under stay at home orders. It sucks, but this COVID-19 case, you won't know if you got it for two weeks. You really want to endanger more lives, including yourselves?

Edited to remove offensive slur.

And?
Most people don't die of it. I don't know, but I'd rather take my chance than being in fear for the rest of my life.

 

[The Last Stand]

Most people don't die of it. I don't know, but I'd rather take my chance than being in fear for the rest of my life.

The people affected by it are the elderly and those with pre-existing conditions. The issue is that symptoms won't show for at least two weeks. And they could spread without them knowing it.

I would beg to differ.

 

[heathercho]

The people affected by it are the elderly and those with pre-existing conditions. The issue is that symptoms won't show for at least two weeks. And they could spread without them knowing it.

I would beg to differ.

The flu kills old people too. In large numbers.

Also, westerners are filthy. Washing hands and not coughing/sneezing into the air should be just basics. This shouldn't constitute house arrest.

 

[haurchefant]

Look at all those people practicing social distancing outside.

News flash, practically the whole country is under stay at home orders. It sucks, but this COVID-19 case, you won't know if you got it for two weeks. You really want to endanger more lives, including yourselves?

Edited to remove offensive slur.

Yes. Just because you live off tardbux and don't go outside doesn't mean other (healthier) people are content to do the same.

Don't fear the reaper.

 

[The Last Stand]

Also, westerners are filthy. Washing hands and not coughing/sneezing into the air should be just basics. This shouldn't constitute house arrest.

You have a point there. No wonder Trump is a germaphobe.

 

[Radical Cadre]

Edited to remove offensive slur.

I didn't know you were a pussy.

 

[snailslime]

the sale of fruit/seeds/gardening supplies order says that stores larger than 50,000 square feet must close off certain areas to prevent unnecessary crowding. you can still buy all of these things at a home depot/any local dollar store

speaking of that, it's snowing here right now. there is no way you could even garden during these times.

causing massive traffic jams on important roads is extremely autistic. ambulances had trouble reaching hospitals, not to mention the poor residents of lansing who had to listen to incessant horn honking. i'm actually surprised no protestors are sitting in the ingham county jail right now

it is absolutely not the end of the world if you can't go golfing/fishing/whatever until april 30th.

if you genuinely think our state is like a dictatorship right now, you're a terribly misinformed retard. i live in michigan and no cops stop me when i take my dog to the park or the tennis court lmao

fake news is fake news

 

[Sneed's Feed And Seed]

Edited to remove offensive slur.

And yet you're still here.

 

[TowinKarz]

the sale of fruit/seeds/gardening supplies order says that stores larger than 50,000 square feet must close areas to prevent crowding. you can still buy all of these things at a home depot/any local dollar store

causing massive traffic jams on important roads is extremely autistic. ambulances had trouble reaching hospitals. i'm actually surprised no protestors are sitting in the ingham county jail right now

it's not the end of the world if you can't go golfing/fishing/whatever

if you genuinely think our state is like a dictatorship right now, you're an exceptional individual. i live in michigan and no cops stop me when i take my dog to the park or the tennis court lmao

fake news is fake news

The problem is, while no single order given so far, on it's own, is unreasonable, 500 of them stacking on each other becomes intolerable, and fed up people are fed up people. You can say they have no reason to be, but 1,500 angry people in the street is.... 1,500 angry people, clearly, whatever you think of quarantine, a growing and vocal part of the nation disagrees.


Are quarantine measures understandable? Logical? Yes

But so is frustration at having to put up with it for a month with no end in sight, the big-brains in Government and Academia are really showing how out of touch they are when they can't even seem to understand WHY very normal and very average people have a problem with this state of affairs going on indefinitely.

"Diversity is our strength" as government mantra took a decade to wear out it's welcome

"Don't you dare leave home, it's for everyone's good" took only a month .

 

[snailslime]

The problem is, while no single order given so far, on it's own, is unreasonable, 500 of them stacking on each other becomes intolerable, and fed up people are fed up people. You can say they have no reason to be, but 1,500 angry people in the street is.... 1,500 angry people, clearly, whatever you think of quarantine, a growing and vocal part of the nation disagrees.


Are quarantine measures understandable? Logical? Yes

But so is frustration at having to put up with it for a month with no end in sight, the big-brains in Government and Academia are really showing how out of touch they are when they can't even seem to understand WHY very normal and very average people have a problem with this state of affairs going on indefinitely.

"Diversity is our strength" as government mantra took a decade to wear out it's welcome

"Don't you dare leave home, it's for everyone's good" took only a month .

a loud minority ≠ a significant part of the nation (state, in this case).

i'm a healthy, not immunocompromised individual and while i find the quarantine boring and annoying, i use my brain to logically understand that these precautions are necessary in order for us to not turn into italy #2. have you seen how hard our state was hit by this virus? i think we're in 3rd place when it comes to the highest amounts of cases in the US.

and what the fuck does diversity have to do with any of this

 

[haurchefant]

The problem is, while no single order given so far, on it's own, is unreasonable, 500 of them stacking on each other becomes intolerable, and fed up people are fed up people. You can say they have no reason to be, but 1,500 angry people in the street is.... 1,500 angry people, clearly, whatever you think of quarantine, a growing and vocal part of the nation disagrees.


Are quarantine measures understandable? Logical? Yes

But so is frustration at having to put up with it for a month with no end in sight, the big-brains in Government and Academia are really showing how out of touch they are when they can't even seem to understand WHY very normal and very average people have a problem with this state of affairs going on indefinitely.

"Diversity is our strength" as government mantra took a decade to wear out it's welcome

"Don't you dare leave home, it's for everyone's good" took only a month .

Come on now obviously everyone should just go on welfare while they play Animal Crossing and whine on twitter about how bored they are. That'll last for months with absolutely no repercussions whatsoever. Everything is perfectly fine and there are absolutely no problems whatsoever. 1500 people protesting doesn't mean anything. No one has any reason whatsoever to be dissatisfied. Just take your welfare checks, you don't need a job. Maybe no one ever needs to work again and we can finally get that UBI thing going. Just take your welfare checks, there's no need to protest. Just take the welfare checks, you don't need to work.

 

[TowinKarz]

a loud minority ≠ a significant part of the nation (state, in this case).

i'm a healthy, not immunocompromised individual and while i find the quarantine boring and annoying, i use my brain to logically understand that these precautions are necessary in order for us to not turn into italy #2. have you seen how hard our state was hit by this virus? i think we're in 3rd place when it comes to the highest amounts of cases in the US.

and what the fuck does diversity have to do with any of this

If you want to stay inside, nobody is forcing you to leave, but I want out and and willing to take my chances. You want me to wear a mask, not cough on people and social distance at the store? Sure, that's reasonable. Quarantining me for an indefinite time so that I'm forced to burn my life savings with no idea of when I might work again, is not.

If I'm wrong, you can send a "Told you so" card for my funeral, but I'm not going to sit here and watch my livelihood die out there instead of me.

 

[The Last Stand]

If you want to stay inside, nobody is forcing you to leave, but I want out and and willing to take my chances. You want me to wear a mask, not cough on people and social distance at the store? Sure, that's reasonable

That's generally my stance on the Stay at Home policies. Don't get in big groups, take precautions to protect yourself and others. It shouldn't be that hard. Don't add other stuff in the mix.

 

[haurchefant]

Why does anyone need to work? Don't these people realize they're putting millions of lives at risk by trying to earn an livelihood? Gorillions and gorillions of people will die if you try to earn money in any way shape or form outside of your home. Just take the welfare checks.

 

[Longjack Attack]

It's kinda amazing how full blown riots and fights didn't erupt. I mean out of all those people around each other someone in that crowd probably had to let off a cough or sneeze to ruffle some feathers for clout. It only takes one to raise hell.