(WWJ) A day after images of armed protesters at Michigan's Capitol made headlines worldwide, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer is expressing disappointment.
"Yesterday's scene at the Capitol was disturbing, to be quite honest," Whitmer said at her Friday COVID-19 news briefing.
"Swastikas and Confederate flags, nooses and automatic rifles do not represent who we are as Michiganders. This state has a rich history of people coming together in times of crisis. Our brave soldiers fought to keep union intact during the Civil War. We came together as the Arsenal of Democracy to defeat the Nazis, because we were united against a common enemy."
Now, Whitmer said, we must channel that same energy against another common enemy: COVID-19.
"I know that some people are angry and I know many are feeling restless, and know that people are itching to get back to work," she said. "And I get it, and I respect it, and it's OK to feel that way. There's nothing that I want more than to just flip the switch and return to normal, but that's not how it's going to work unfortunately."
Whitmer's comments come a day after couple of hundred people gathered in Lansing to protest what they call "excessive quarantine" under her orders.
While some protesters gathered in groups, in defiance of social distancing guidelines, others remained in their vehicles; honking their horns as they drove by. One man held a sign that reads: "Whitmer, Kiss My Non-Essential A$$." Other signs displayed the slogans: "Return Our Freedom" and "Set Us Free."
The protesters want an end to what they call "the shutdown" of Michigan under the governor's orders amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Protesters, unhappy with Gov. Whitmer's executive actions, say they want businesses reopened immediately.
Tensions ran high at times as some of the protestors, who were blocked from entering the House chamber by Michigan State Police troopers, chanted: "Let us in, let us in!" (More on the protest here).
Sen. Dayna Polehanki of Livonia tweeted a photo of heavily-armed protestors inside the Capitol, noting: "Directly above me, men with rifles yelling at us. Some of my colleagues who own bullet proof vests are wearing them."
While public reaction to rally has been mixed, President Donald Trump tweeted his support, calling the protesters "very good people," and advising Whitmer to listen to them.
Whitmer thanked State Police and Senate sergeants that kept everyone safe, as well as the cleanup crews who worked diligently to disinfect the Capitol building today."And as always I want to thank the millions of Michiganders who did their party by staying home," the governor added.
While the governor says the coronavirus shows signs of slowing in the state, she urges everyone to continue to follow social distancing guidelines. She said the only way we can get through the virus crisis and take the next steps forward is if we all continue to do our part — which includes staying home as much as possible.
On Friday, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services announced there are 977 new cases of COVID-19 in Michigan, and 77 new deaths. That brings the totals to 42,356 confirmed cases and 3,866 deaths in Michigan during the coronavirus pandemic.
