Hundreds of gun-toting, flag-waving Michigan residents were blocked by state police as they tried to get into legislative chambers inside the state capitol building in Lansing.
The protest happened while lawmakers were debating Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s state of emergency in response to the coronavirus pandemic.
Protesters held signs, waved American flags and even carried firearms while some chanted, “Let us in!” and “This is the people’s house, you cannot lock us out,”
Television station WDIV reported that some protesters tried to get onto the house floor.
Protest moves inside Michigan Capitol. Crowd attempts to get onto Hoise floor. Lots of Michigan State Police and House sergeants at arms blocking door. pic.twitter.com/4FNQpimP4W
— Rod Meloni (@RodMeloni) April 30, 2020
The presence of so many gun-toting, flag-waving patriots apparently triggered leftist lawmakers like Sen. Dayna Polehanki.
“Directly above me, men with rifles yelling at us,” she wrote on Twitter. “Some of my colleagues who own bullet proof vests are wearing them. I have never appreciated our sergeant-at-arms more than today.”
For the record, there were no reported incidents of violence in the capitol building. None whatsoever.
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