Domestic Terrorism: Heavily armed protesters stormed Michigan’s state capitol building today in an attempt to intimidate lawmakers deliberating on extending the state’s stay-at-home order.
The Detroit Free Press reports:
Protesters, some carrying firearms, took their demonstration against Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s stay-home order inside the Michigan Capitol Thursday afternoon as lawmakers considered an expiring emergency declaration.
Deadline Detroit reports:
A crowd of protesters, some armed with rifles, entered the state Capitol Thursday, demanding to be let into a legislative chamber as lawmakers deliberated an extension of the state’s emergency declaration.
Images and videos posted to social media showed the mob of several dozen ignoring social distancing guidelines as they entered the building, with many not wearing masks. In addition to weapons, some protesters came armed with swastika signage and Confederate flags.
Armed protesters chanted “Let us in,” while some carried signs advocating violence. One sign attached to a truck outside the Capitol said: “Make treason punishable by hanging.” Another prominent sign said: “Tyrants get the rope.”
Many of the demonstrators inside the Capitol openly carried firearms, causing some rightfully nervous lawmakers to put on bulletproof vests:
Directly above me, men with rifles yelling at us. Some of my colleagues who own bullet proof vests are wearing them. I have never appreciated our Sergeants-at-Arms more than today. #mileg pic.twitter.com/voOZpPYWOs
— Senator Dayna Polehanki (@SenPolehanki) April 30, 2020
Commenting on the protests, Rosie Jones, a spokesperson for Senate Minority Leader Jim Ananich, told Talking Points Memo:
These folks are a small minority of people who are vocally opposed the governor’s stay at home executive order. Although, their message is muddled with inflammatory language like ‘tyrants get your rope’ and images of swastikas and confederate flags.
The following is some of the reactions and reports via Twitter:
Multiple armed gunmen storm Michigan’s State House, State police are protecting @GovWhitmer and blocking the gunmen from gaining access to the house floor.
This is America in the age of Trump. pic.twitter.com/tLWR2bvjtR
— Rob Gill (@vote4robgill) April 30, 2020
Are we are likely hours if not minutes from Trump calling these angry white “protestors” armed with semi-automatic guns, and no masks or social distancing, very fine people and offering his support. #MichiganProtest
— Amy Siskind �️� (@Amy_Siskind) April 30, 2020
At what point can we call the armed, non-PPE-wearing “protesters” that stormed the Michigan Capitol terrorists? #MichiganProtest pic.twitter.com/1L2M528vbM
— Mike (@michaelbrazell) April 30, 2020
“Responsible gun owners” my ass.
These are vigilantes who as a country we have deemed somehow deserve to have highly dangerous weapons. What the hell are we doing. #MichiganProtest pic.twitter.com/CU3Xqx5TS7 https://t.co/k18fTWDGgK
— Ethan Somers (@ethanjsomers) April 30, 2020
A bunch of armed gunmen inside the Michigan State Capitol building are nothing less than TERRORISTS.
Whatever you have to say WITH a gun, you can say it much better without a gun. #MichiganProtest https://t.co/11jV0UTzlW
— BrooklynDad_Defiant! (@mmpadellan) April 30, 2020
#MichiganProtest Heavily armed people storming a government building is an attack, not a protest. It is at the very least an act of intimidation, if not terrorism.
— Kathleen Belew (@kathleen_belew) April 30, 2020
If you think storming a government building, especially a capital or legislative building, dressed in paramilitary garb, armed to the teeth is anything other than political terrorism you are very, very wrong. This is not a #MichiganProtest, it is sedition.
— Clinton Pope (@clintonpope) April 30, 2020
Bottom line: Domestic Terrorists stormed Michigan’s state capitol building today in an attempt to intimidate lawmakers deliberating on extending the state’s cornavirus stay-at-home order.
