LANSING — Critics of Michigan's expanded stay-home order are planning an in-vehicle protest to tell the governor they believe she has gone too far.

The Michigan Conservative Coalition and Michigan Freedom Fund, who organized the protest, asked for protesters to surround the Capitol in their vehicles at noon Wednesday to display flags and signs, make noise and be disruptive about Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's "erratic, unilateral orders that threaten Michiganders' economic existence," according to a news release. They warned protesters to come ready for a potentially major traffic jam.

This protest comes several days after Whitmer extended her order through April 30 and took the requirements of staying home a step further, banning crossing the street to visit with neighbors or driving to see friends, among other things.

“Michigan has the third highest number of COVID-19 cases in the country, and we’re still on the upswing," Whitmer said last week. "We must continue to do everything we can to slow the spread and protect our families. Data shows that most Michiganders are doing their part by staying home and staying safe. That’s good, but we must keep it up."

The extension was expected, and tracks with President Donald Trump's extension with federal social distancing guidelines and actions in other Midwest states like Ohio.

During a newspress conference Monday, Whitmer said the Michigan Freedom Fund is funded in-part by the family of U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos, something she called "inappropriate."

Nick Wasmiller, a spokesperson for the DeVos family, said the family has not spent any money on the protest, nor has it offered prior support to organizers.

"The DeVos family, however, understands the frustration of fellow Michiganders as elements of the governor’s top-down approach appear to go beyond public safety," Wasmiller said in the statement. "Michigan deserves competent governance, not baseless attacks.”

Michiganders Against Excessive Quarantine

Whitmer's new order has been blasted for its inconsistencies, as it allows the sale of lottery tickets at stores larger than 50,000 square feet, but not paint or gardening tools, and lets non-Michiganders travel to their Up North cottages, but not Michigan residents.

“Michigan’s typical small business owners obey laws, but they may not notice the progressive agenda being pushed by our radical leftist Governor Whitmer,” Rosanne Ponkowski, president of the Michigan Conservative Coalition, said in a news release. “Governor Whitmer will put you out of business before allowing mere citizens to be responsible for their own behavior. That is madness.”

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More than 13,000 people said they were interested in the protest on Facebook as of Monday morning, and had 2,800 RSVP'd that they would be attending.

The Michigan Conservative Coalition's sentiments are echoed by many people in the Facebook group "Michiganders Against Excessive Quarantine," which as of Monday, its fifth day in existence, had nearly 270,000 members.

Kristi Greulich See, of Plymouth, said despite what some think, the group is not full of conspiracy theorists who deny that the novel coronavirus is a big deal.

"We've come to terms with something a lot of people haven't," Greulich See said. "People are going to get this. People will die...Our goal should be how to manage it and get through it without destroying our economy."

She agreed with Whitmer that the first three weeks of the stay-home order were needed. Government and medical officials needed time to learn about the virus, stock up on personal protection equipment and put the disaster team in place, Greulich See said.

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But now, it seems excessive, she said. Her understanding of the science behind the stay-home order was that self-isolating and social distancing would slow the spread of the virus so hospitals weren't flooded with cases, not to eradicate the virus.

"This is going to be coming in waves for a while, it isn't going away," Greulich See said. "We could lock ourselves in the house and crash the economy for a year and it won't be any different."

But Dr. Joneigh Khaldun, Michigan's chief medical executive, said this is not the time to loosen the reins.

"If we loosen up too soon, more people will die, and hospitals will become overwhelmed," Khaldun said at a Thursday news conference with Whitmer.

'Lives cost way more than the economy'

Sean McKendry, a Holt man who joined the anti-quarantine Facebook out of curiosity for what others were saying, said he sees anti-quarantine thoughts as selfish.

McKendry said Whitmer has done what she can do to save lives. He doesn't like being quarantined at home, but said he knows it's important to do so.

"I'm frustrated by the Trumpian logic and selfishness of others who think it's more important to go golfing or get on boats than to save lives," McKendry said. "Lives cost way more than the economy. I don't think I want to trade my grandma's life for the economy."

McKendry said acts like the protest at the Capitol, which may violate the stay-home order, are purely political. He doesn't think people in support of it are thinking about the facts.

Lonnie Scott, executive director of Progress Michigan, said groups like the Michigan Conservative Coalition and Michigan Freedom Fund have one goal: To attack Whitmer any way they can.

"While hundreds of Michiganders die every day because of COVID-19 and essential workers are doing their best to keep our communities healthy and functioning, these selfish and out-of-touch fringe groups are throwing a temper tantrum at the expense of public safety and health," Scott said in a news release.

Several legislators, including U.S. Rep. Justin Amash, I-Mich., joined the critics in opposing Whitmer's order. He asked her to "immediately reassess" in a series of tweets Saturday.

"As a federal official, I do my best to stay out of state politics," tweeted Amash, an independent from Cascade Charter Township whose 3rd Congressional District includes Ionia County. "But I have a constitutional duty to ensure states don’t trample on the rights of the people. @GovWhitmer’s latest order goes too far and will erode confidence in her leadership. She should immediately reassess it."

Whitmer's executive order mandated that stores larger than 50,000 must close areas for merchandise that has been deemed nonessential, including furniture, garden centers, paint and carpet or flooring. They cannot advertise or promote goods that aren't groceries, medical supplies or other necessary items.

Stores also have to limit the number of people allowed inside at once. For stores larger than 50,000 square feet, four people for every 1,000 square feet can be shopping. For stores smaller than that, the number of shoppers cannot pass 25% of the total occupancy limit.

See Whitmer's executive order here for a full list of restrictions.

Contact reporter Kara Berg at 517-377-1113 or kberg@lsj.com. Follow her on Twitter @karaberg95.