People take part in a protest for "Michiganders Against Excessive Quarantine" at the Michigan State Capitol in Lansing, Michigan on April 15, 2020. (Photo: Jeff Kowalsky/AFP via Getty Images)
Despite CDC Warning of 'Significant Risk' of Lifting Stay-in-Place Orders, Right-Wingers Launch Anti-Lockdown Movement
"These selfish and out-of-touch fringe groups are throwing a temper tantrum at the expense of public safety and health."
As reporting Wednesday revealed an internal government document warning of "a significant risk of resurgence" of the coronavirus even in a phased reopening scenario, right-wing activists in Michigan staged protests outside the state capitol to boldly defy Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's extended stay-at-home order designed to protect public health.
Dubbed "Operation Gridlock," the event was organized by the Michigan Conservative Coalition and Michigan Freedom Fund. The groups called on people to circle their vehicles around the state capitol building in Lansing in order to create a traffic jam.
That Facebook event call-to-action asks participants to stay in their cars, but videos and photos shared on social media show many people standing outside the building. Those protesters appear to be participating in a simultaneous protest launched by the newly created Michiganders Against Excessive Quarantine. Those protesters, many standing on the steps of the capitol, are seen not adhering to social distancing guidelines, openly carrying weapons, holding pro-President Donald Trump flags, and singing chants including "Recall Whitmer."
"Half protest, half Trump rally is how I would characterize #OperationGridlock in Michigan," MLive reporter Malachi Barrett said on Twitter.
The action came in for criticism from advocacy group Progress Michigan.
According to Lonnie Scott, executive director of the progressive organization, "These fringe groups have one goal: attack Gov. Whitmer for anything, even if it means sending a dangerous message about the importance of social distancing during a global pandemic."
The Michigan Freedom Fund, said Progress Michigan, is "a DeVos-backed corporate front group," referring to Trump's billionaire Education Secretary and Michigan native Betsy DeVos.
"Normally we wouldn't give these childish games the time of day," added Scott, "but we think it's important that the people of Michigan know who these people really are and the fact that a group supported by one of Trump's cabinet members, Betsy DeVos, is at the helm of this dangerous ship."
The action in Michigan Wednesday came the same day the Washington Post published a leaked draft of an internal planning document by the CDC and FEMA in which government officials warned of a "significant risk of resurgence" of the infectious disease even with a controlled reopening of schools, businesses, and other public activity.
According to the Post, the draft strategy document "warns of a 'large rebound curve' of novel coronavirus cases if mitigation efforts are relaxed too quickly before vaccines are developed and distributed or broad community immunity is achieved."
As of this writing, there are over 601,472 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the United States and over 24,429 deaths. Michigan is the state with the fourth highest number of confirmed cases--27,001. There have been 1,768 Covid-19-related deaths in the state.
FINAL DAY! This is urgent.
Dear Common Dreams reader, It’s been nearly 30 years since I co-founded Common Dreams with my late wife, Lina Newhouser. We had the radical notion that journalism should serve the public good, not corporate profits. It was clear to us from the outset what it would take to build such a project. No paid advertisements. No corporate sponsors. No millionaire publisher telling us what to think or do. Many people said we wouldn't last a year, but we proved those doubters wrong. Together with a tremendous team of journalists and dedicated staff, we built an independent media outlet free from the constraints of profits and corporate control. Our mission from the outset was simple. To inform. To inspire. To ignite change for the common good. Building Common Dreams was not easy. Our survival was never guaranteed. When you take on the most powerful forces—Wall Street greed, fossil fuel industry destruction, Big Tech lobbyists, and uber-rich oligarchs who have spent billions upon billions rigging the economy and democracy in their favor—the only bulwark you have is supporters who believe in your work. But here’s the urgent message from me today. It’s never been this bad out there. And it’s never been this hard to keep us going. At the very moment Common Dreams is most needed and doing some of its best and most important work, the threats we face are intensifying. Right now, with just hours left in our Spring Campaign, we're still falling short of our make-or-break goal. When everyone does the little they can afford, we are strong. But if that support retreats or dries up, so do we. Can you make a gift right now to make sure Common Dreams not only survives but thrives? There is no backup plan or rainy day fund. There is only you. —Craig Brown, Co-founder |
As reporting Wednesday revealed an internal government document warning of "a significant risk of resurgence" of the coronavirus even in a phased reopening scenario, right-wing activists in Michigan staged protests outside the state capitol to boldly defy Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's extended stay-at-home order designed to protect public health.
Dubbed "Operation Gridlock," the event was organized by the Michigan Conservative Coalition and Michigan Freedom Fund. The groups called on people to circle their vehicles around the state capitol building in Lansing in order to create a traffic jam.
That Facebook event call-to-action asks participants to stay in their cars, but videos and photos shared on social media show many people standing outside the building. Those protesters appear to be participating in a simultaneous protest launched by the newly created Michiganders Against Excessive Quarantine. Those protesters, many standing on the steps of the capitol, are seen not adhering to social distancing guidelines, openly carrying weapons, holding pro-President Donald Trump flags, and singing chants including "Recall Whitmer."
"Half protest, half Trump rally is how I would characterize #OperationGridlock in Michigan," MLive reporter Malachi Barrett said on Twitter.
The action came in for criticism from advocacy group Progress Michigan.
According to Lonnie Scott, executive director of the progressive organization, "These fringe groups have one goal: attack Gov. Whitmer for anything, even if it means sending a dangerous message about the importance of social distancing during a global pandemic."
The Michigan Freedom Fund, said Progress Michigan, is "a DeVos-backed corporate front group," referring to Trump's billionaire Education Secretary and Michigan native Betsy DeVos.
"Normally we wouldn't give these childish games the time of day," added Scott, "but we think it's important that the people of Michigan know who these people really are and the fact that a group supported by one of Trump's cabinet members, Betsy DeVos, is at the helm of this dangerous ship."
The action in Michigan Wednesday came the same day the Washington Post published a leaked draft of an internal planning document by the CDC and FEMA in which government officials warned of a "significant risk of resurgence" of the infectious disease even with a controlled reopening of schools, businesses, and other public activity.
According to the Post, the draft strategy document "warns of a 'large rebound curve' of novel coronavirus cases if mitigation efforts are relaxed too quickly before vaccines are developed and distributed or broad community immunity is achieved."
As of this writing, there are over 601,472 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the United States and over 24,429 deaths. Michigan is the state with the fourth highest number of confirmed cases--27,001. There have been 1,768 Covid-19-related deaths in the state.
As reporting Wednesday revealed an internal government document warning of "a significant risk of resurgence" of the coronavirus even in a phased reopening scenario, right-wing activists in Michigan staged protests outside the state capitol to boldly defy Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's extended stay-at-home order designed to protect public health.
Dubbed "Operation Gridlock," the event was organized by the Michigan Conservative Coalition and Michigan Freedom Fund. The groups called on people to circle their vehicles around the state capitol building in Lansing in order to create a traffic jam.
That Facebook event call-to-action asks participants to stay in their cars, but videos and photos shared on social media show many people standing outside the building. Those protesters appear to be participating in a simultaneous protest launched by the newly created Michiganders Against Excessive Quarantine. Those protesters, many standing on the steps of the capitol, are seen not adhering to social distancing guidelines, openly carrying weapons, holding pro-President Donald Trump flags, and singing chants including "Recall Whitmer."
"Half protest, half Trump rally is how I would characterize #OperationGridlock in Michigan," MLive reporter Malachi Barrett said on Twitter.
The action came in for criticism from advocacy group Progress Michigan.
According to Lonnie Scott, executive director of the progressive organization, "These fringe groups have one goal: attack Gov. Whitmer for anything, even if it means sending a dangerous message about the importance of social distancing during a global pandemic."
The Michigan Freedom Fund, said Progress Michigan, is "a DeVos-backed corporate front group," referring to Trump's billionaire Education Secretary and Michigan native Betsy DeVos.
"Normally we wouldn't give these childish games the time of day," added Scott, "but we think it's important that the people of Michigan know who these people really are and the fact that a group supported by one of Trump's cabinet members, Betsy DeVos, is at the helm of this dangerous ship."
The action in Michigan Wednesday came the same day the Washington Post published a leaked draft of an internal planning document by the CDC and FEMA in which government officials warned of a "significant risk of resurgence" of the infectious disease even with a controlled reopening of schools, businesses, and other public activity.
According to the Post, the draft strategy document "warns of a 'large rebound curve' of novel coronavirus cases if mitigation efforts are relaxed too quickly before vaccines are developed and distributed or broad community immunity is achieved."
As of this writing, there are over 601,472 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the United States and over 24,429 deaths. Michigan is the state with the fourth highest number of confirmed cases--27,001. There have been 1,768 Covid-19-related deaths in the state.