The protest dubbed “Operation Gridlock” at the Michigan Capitol wasn’t actually about the stay-at-home order, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said on MSNBC Wednesday night.

It was about politics, Whitmer said.

“It wasn’t really about the stay-at-home order at all,” Whitmer said. “It was essentially a political rally, a political statement that flies in the face of all of the science and all of the best practices from the stay-at-home order that was issued.”

WATCH: Gov. Whitmer says today's protest at Michigan's Capitol is "the kind of behavior that extends the need for stay-at-home orders."



"It was a political rally that is going to endanger people's lives because this is precisely how COVID-19 spreads."https://t.co/hZ1sjeUUSI pic.twitter.com/wd3ZTAEQgC — MSNBC (@MSNBC) April 15, 2020

Numerous Republican lawmakers have criticized Whitmer’s extension of the stay-at-home order in recent days, saying the governor needs to use common sense and allow businesses at a low risk of spreading the virus to reopen.

Conservative groups planned Wednesday's protest, with the idea of creating a traffic jam around the Capitol. While many stayed in their vehicles and honked, others congregated throughout the afternoon.

They waved American flags, Trump flags and Confederate flags. They held up signs comparing Whitmer to Adolf Hitler. Chants included, "recall Whitmer" and "lock her up."

Chants of “recall Whitmer,” “USA” and “lock her up” outside Michigan Capitol. #OperationGridlock pic.twitter.com/7Q7niiNFUF — Malachi Barrett (@PolarBarrett) April 15, 2020

Whitmer said she supports free speech and expressing your opinion – but said the lack of precautions used during the protest “absolutely” put Michiganders at risk. She noted an ambulance was blocked by the gridlock from getting into a hospital bay and bare-handed protesters were handing out candy to kids.

The governor also appeared on CNN Wednesday night to talk about the protest.

“They absolutely impacted peoples’ lives today and threatened peoples’ lives,” Whitmer told CNN. “We’ll never know the precise number of COVID-19 cases that come as a result of this gathering, but we know that there will be some.”

Wednesday’s protest is the exact kind of thing that can spread coronavirus, Whitmer said. And, ironically, it could be a reason the stay-at-home order needs to be extended beyond April 30, she said.

“Showing up and being this irresponsible is not just endangering our own lives, it’s endangering all of our first responders,” Whitmer said. “This is precisely the worst thing that could have happened, today.”

PREVENTION TIPS

In addition to washing hands regularly and not touching your face, officials recommend practicing social distancing, assuming anyone may be carrying the virus.

Health officials say you should be staying at least 6 feet away from others and working from home, if possible.

Carry hand sanitizer with you, and use disinfecting wipes or disinfecting spray cleaners on frequently-touched surfaces in your home (door handles, faucets, countertops) and when you go into places like stores.

Read more Michigan coronavirus coverage here

Whitmer says she’s ‘disappointed’ in coronavirus stay-at-home protest, but supports free speech rights

Protesters angry with Gov. Whitmer’s stay-at-home order gridlock Michigan capitol

All but one county in Michigan’s Lower Peninsula have a reported coronavirus case; 153 more deaths