Armed Militia Descend On Michigan Capitol For Third Anti-Lockdown Protest

KEY POINTS

Thursday's protest was organized by Michigan United for Liberty in what was called a "judgment day" for the Legislature
Despite being smaller than previous protests, there were still concerns over violence due to Facebook threats made against Gov. Gretchen Whitmer
Michigan remains under a shelter-in-place order until May 28, though manufacturing workers have been allowed to return to work

Armed protesters gathered outside the Michigan Capitol on Thursday in the third demonstration against Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s coronavirus shelter-in-place order. The protest was organized by the Michigan United for Liberty militia in what the group called “judgment day” for the state on social media.

Despite the verbiage, Thursday’s anti-lockdown protest was the smallest to date in Lansing, largely because of poor weather and deletions of posts by Facebook, which said the missives violated the company’s policy on inciting violence.

However, there were still concerns about violence in the wake of the last two protests and alleged threats against Whitmer on Facebook. The Detroit Metro Times said it had gained access to four private groups with 400,000 members encouraging violence in what were described as “paranoid, sexist, and grammar-challenged rants.”

“I would be not truthful if I said it didn't bother me. It certainly does,” Whitmer said Wednesday on “The View.” “These protests, in a perverse way, make it likelier that we're going to stay in a stay-home posture.”

It’s the latest in what has been described as a “powder keg situation” that reflects tensions between Whitmer and state Republicans.

Tensions came to ahead on April 24 when Whitmer extended the state’s lockdown until May 15 despite Republican wishes to reopen the economy. The extension was followed by protests on April 30 with armed protesters filling the capitol building while people outside had signs with Nazi and Confederate imagery. Most of the protesters also did not wear masks or follow social distancing guidelines.

In the fallout, Whitmer extended the shelter-in-place order until May 28, but did allow manufacturing workers to return to work on Monday.

“This is good news for our state, our businesses, and our working families,” Whitmer said in a public statement. “We're not out of the woods yet, but this is an important step forward on our [Michigan] Safe Start plan to reengage our economy safely and responsibly.”