Protesters gathered outside the home of Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on Thursday — the same day reports emerged that she plans to extend the state’s coronavirus stay-at-home order by two weeks until May 15.
The demonstration, dubbed “Operation Queen’s Castle,” featured an image of Whitmer wearing a crown, FOX 2 of Detroit reported.
“We wanted to send Gretchen Whitmer a message, we didn’t want to surrender our liberties just for a little temporary safety,” Brian Pannebecker, who helped organize the protest, told the station.
Dem governor expected to defend state’s controversial sanctuary policies during GOP-led hearing
WATCH: AOC blames Trump for LA riots, says his administration ‘owns this’
Chaos erupts as ICE protesters prompt state of emergency in Spokane, Washington
California looters now face ‘hard-charging’ consequences after blue state abandoned soft-on-crime approach
Democrat Congresswoman draws boos over ‘shameful’ sexism remark in committee hearing with Treasury Secretary
Trump says he is open to extending trade deal deadline for other countries: ‘I would’
Terry Moran joins growing wave of unemployed former TV journalists joining Substack
DHS releases video of agents arresting suspect who allegedly assaulted border patrol officer
Republicans batter Democrats 13-2 for fifth consecutive Congressional Baseball Game win
WATCH: Top Dem says he has ‘never heard’ his fellow party members call LA riots ‘peaceful’
Los Angeles DA delivers scathing warning to violent protesters causing havoc: ‘We’re coming for you’
School District Confirms It Has the Footage of Austin Metcalf Stabbing, But There’s 1 Catch
Not Good: US Preparing to Evacuate ‘All Nonessential Personnel’ from Foreign Embassy
‘Class is back’: Trumps and Vances wow in black-tie fashion on Kennedy Center red carpet
Democrat accuses Trump of unleashing ‘campaign of terror’ on illegals as LA riots rage
Gov. Whitmer to extend stay at home order until May 15https://t.co/fgk0GVyldT
— FOX 2 Detroit (@FOX2News) April 24, 2020
Meanwhile, the Michigan Legislature has scheduled a special session for Friday with the goal of creating an oversight committee to review Whitmer’s coronavirus orders and possibly strip her of some of her powers, the Detroit Free Press reported.
Critics have accused Whitmer, a 48-year-old first-term Democratic governor, of overstepping her authority with a series of measures intended to stem the spread of coronavirus in the state. April 9 revisions to her initial stay-at-home order included bans on visiting friends and relatives or traveling to vacation homes, and halts on sales of items such as furniture and gardening supplies.
In a podcast interview, she also said abortions should continue in the state during the virus outbreak because the procedures were part of “life-sustaining” health care for women.
Dem governor expected to defend state’s controversial sanctuary policies during GOP-led hearing
WATCH: AOC blames Trump for LA riots, says his administration ‘owns this’
Chaos erupts as ICE protesters prompt state of emergency in Spokane, Washington
California looters now face ‘hard-charging’ consequences after blue state abandoned soft-on-crime approach
Democrat Congresswoman draws boos over ‘shameful’ sexism remark in committee hearing with Treasury Secretary
Trump says he is open to extending trade deal deadline for other countries: ‘I would’
Terry Moran joins growing wave of unemployed former TV journalists joining Substack
DHS releases video of agents arresting suspect who allegedly assaulted border patrol officer
Republicans batter Democrats 13-2 for fifth consecutive Congressional Baseball Game win
WATCH: Top Dem says he has ‘never heard’ his fellow party members call LA riots ‘peaceful’
Los Angeles DA delivers scathing warning to violent protesters causing havoc: ‘We’re coming for you’
School District Confirms It Has the Footage of Austin Metcalf Stabbing, But There’s 1 Catch
Not Good: US Preparing to Evacuate ‘All Nonessential Personnel’ from Foreign Embassy
‘Class is back’: Trumps and Vances wow in black-tie fashion on Kennedy Center red carpet
Democrat accuses Trump of unleashing ‘campaign of terror’ on illegals as LA riots rage
In addition, Whitmer came under fire after a no-bid coronavirus-related state contract was awarded to a firm operated by a well-known Democratic consultant who had written that President Trump should “get coronavirus ASAP.” Whitmer’s office later acknowleged that the contract was awarded without adhering to normal protocols.
Michigan House Speaker Lee Chatfield, R-Levering, explained the point of Friday’s planned session in a Twitter message.
“The House & Senate will convene tomorrow to create a special oversight committee on COVID-19 to examine our government’s response,” he wrote. “Michigan needs to handle this pandemic seriously yet properly. It’s what the people deserve, and we will see that it happens.”
The House & Senate will convene tomorrow to create a special oversight committee on COVID-19 to examine our government’s response. Michigan needs to handle this pandemic seriously yet properly. It’s what the people deserve, and we will see that it happens. #InThisTogether
— Lee Chatfield (@LeeChatfield) April 23, 2020
In another tweet, Chatfield noted that marijuana, lottery tickets and alcohol had been declared “essential,” while lawn care, construction and fishing in a motorized boat had been declared nonessential amid the outbreak.
Dem governor expected to defend state’s controversial sanctuary policies during GOP-led hearing
WATCH: AOC blames Trump for LA riots, says his administration ‘owns this’
Chaos erupts as ICE protesters prompt state of emergency in Spokane, Washington
California looters now face ‘hard-charging’ consequences after blue state abandoned soft-on-crime approach
Democrat Congresswoman draws boos over ‘shameful’ sexism remark in committee hearing with Treasury Secretary
Trump says he is open to extending trade deal deadline for other countries: ‘I would’
Terry Moran joins growing wave of unemployed former TV journalists joining Substack
DHS releases video of agents arresting suspect who allegedly assaulted border patrol officer
Republicans batter Democrats 13-2 for fifth consecutive Congressional Baseball Game win
WATCH: Top Dem says he has ‘never heard’ his fellow party members call LA riots ‘peaceful’
Los Angeles DA delivers scathing warning to violent protesters causing havoc: ‘We’re coming for you’
School District Confirms It Has the Footage of Austin Metcalf Stabbing, But There’s 1 Catch
Not Good: US Preparing to Evacuate ‘All Nonessential Personnel’ from Foreign Embassy
‘Class is back’: Trumps and Vances wow in black-tie fashion on Kennedy Center red carpet
Democrat accuses Trump of unleashing ‘campaign of terror’ on illegals as LA riots rage
On Monday, Whitmer said she would take a 10 percent cut to her $159,300 annual salary and her staffers would take cuts of 5 percent as the state grapples with the financial fallout of the coronavirus shutdowns. She also continued defending the orders she has issued.
“I know it’s not easy, but the price of losing loved ones is what’s at stake,” she said, noting that many people who contract the virus show no symptoms but can still spread it.
The theme of Thursday’s protest in Lansing, the state’s capital city, was that many Michiganders who are able to work should be able to do so, Pannebecker said.
“Younger people, healthy people, without putting anybody else in danger, including ourselves, and others in danger, should be able to go back to work,” Pannebecker told FOX 2.
The demonstration came eight days after a larger gathering outside the Statehouse called “Operation Gridlock.”
As of late Thursday, Michigan had more than 35,200 confirmed cases of the virus and nearly 3,000 deaths, the Detroit News reported.
Story cited here.
