Novi Times

As COVID-19 has continued to spread across the nation, some citizens are speaking out in protest over the shutdowns that have occurred. 

According to MiSenateGOP, Sen. Jim Runestad (R-White Lake) is imploring Michigan’s Gov. Gretchen Whitmer to loosen her stay-at-home order, which has caused a public outcry from some of the state’s citizens. 

Whitmer’s order requires citizens to stay home through at least April 30, and her restrictions have made it impossible for outdoor landscape workers to continue to do their jobs, considering that these workers are not part of critical infrastructure. 

“Several lawn care workers are solo operations and do not need to have any contact with their customers,” Runestad said on MiSenateGOP. “These are the kinds of businesses that cannot afford to shut down for another three weeks.”

According to The Oakland Press, a group of protestors of Whitmer’s order have organized Operation Gridlock, which is the group that demonstrated on April 15 outside of the Michigan Capitol Building.

Operation Gridlock was organized by the Michigan Conservative Coalition (MCC). In order to stay in compliance with current rules and guidelines, MCC had told participants to stay in their cars and use signs to protest the governor’s action. 

MCC believes that this approach was the best way to make their opposition to the governor’s decision known while still operating within the boundaries of the law, as well as avoiding the risk of being fined for breaking the rules.

Matt Seely, spokesperson for MCC, said that the protest was an important event for those who are suffering from the governor’s decision. 

“This isn’t about politics, this isn’t about red or blue,” Seely told The Oakland Press. “The point of the rally [was] to make a visual statement, let the governor know people are outraged, that (the executive orders) have become unreasonable…. I hope the governor hears our plea.”