Heavily-armed militia group joins protestors in Michigan after judge rules in favor of Gov. Whitmer’s stay-at-home order – The Sun

A MICHIGAN militia group arrived at the capital in Lansing on Thursday to demand the reopening of the state.

They were joined by hundreds of protestors at the event, which was held the morning after a judge sides with Governor Gretchen Whitmer by ruling that the state's stay-at-home order was legal.

The protest was also held as members of Michigan's legislature prepared to vote on extending Governor Whitmer's original order.

Ahead of that vote, members of the Michigan Liberty Militia, were seen roaming the hallways of the state house with their oversized weaponry on full display.

One of the members told The Sun that they had been asked to attend by the organizers of the protest, and were simply there to keep the peace and "make sure everyone is safe."

Ryan Kelley, who organized the protest, said that Governor Whitmer was to blame for the curret state of the economy while riling up supporters from the steps of the state house,

"Whitmer's legacy will be the unemployment, hungry families and economic despair caused by her actions during the pandemic," said Kelley according to the Lansing State Journal.

“The solution is worse than the problem. We've elected a governor who has put us into an economic downward spiral."

Another protestor said she was in favor of Governor Whitmer's decision to shut down the state, but now struggles to understand why it cannot reopen given all the new information about the virus.

The event drew a crowd of largely Trump supporters, as evidenced by the flags and hats worn by many attendees which called for his reelection.

There was an appearance of the Trump Unity Bridge as well on Thursday, the bedazzled float that is being driven around the country by a Michigan resident to support President Trump.

This is now the third protest in Michigan over the stay-at-home order that a judge ruled was constitutionally sound on Wednesday.

In his ruling, which shot down a preliminary injunction filed against Governor Whitmer by some of her constituents, Court of Claims Judge Christopher M Murray wrote: "[T]he Court concludes that entry of a preliminary injunction would be more detrimental to the public than it would to plaintiffs.

"Although the Court is painfully aware of the difficulties of living under the restrictions of these executive orders, those difficulties are temporary, while to those who contract the virus and cannot recover (and to their family members and friends), it is all too permanent."

He then added: "That is not to say that every new virus will require the action taken here, but given the authority of the Governor to do so in the face of these circumstances, the Court must conclude issuing injunctive relief would not serve the public interest, despite the temporary harm to plaintiffs’ constitutional rights."

The protestors did not seem to agree, or see the threat of the virus as most were not wearing masks.

There was also no social distancing by the group, many of whom were huddled together for much of the morning.

The first protest was also at the capital two weeks ago, while one last week was actually held outside of Governor Whitmer's residence.

Grown men chanted and held guns outside the home where the politician lives with her husband and their five children.

To date, over 40,000 residents have tested positive for COBID-19 in Michigan, and 3,670 have died.

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