LANSING — Although photos spread across social media appeared to show otherwise, there were no major delays or roadblocks for ambulances during Wednesday's protest of the governor's stay-home order, officials said.

The rally drew several thousand people to downtown Lansing to protest in their vehicles. Vehicles stopped traffic for several miles around the Capitol, accomplishing organizers' goal of causing a gridlock downtown.

The protest was full of people who felt Gov. Gretchen Whitmer had gone too far with the extension of her stay-home order, which expires April 30. Many wore hats or waved signs showing support for Republican President Donald Trump.

How much congestion was there?

Many state Democrats, including Sen. Curtis Hertel, D-East Lansing, Rep. Leslie Love, D-Detroit, and Rep. Christine Greig, D-Farmington Hills, expressed concerns about the protest on Twitter, saying it was blocking ambulances and putting people's lives at risk.

But both the Lansing Fire Department and Sparrow Health Systems said they didn't experience any major delays from the protest.

Lansing Fire Department Assistant Chief Mike Tobin said while the ambulances were slowed down because of the congestion, crews told him it was no worse than a heavy day in rush hour.

When an ambulance sped toward Sparrow with lights and sirens on, traffic got out of the way, Tobin said. In one photo that appeared to show an ambulance stuck in traffic on Grand Avenue and Washtenaw Street, Tobin said the ambulance did not have a patient on board.

John Foren, spokesperson for Sparrow Hospital, said some hospital staff were late to work because of the protest, forcing others to cover for them. He did not have a number of employees who were late, but said he believed they were isolated cases.

"We still provided care, we did what we had to do," Foren said.

Michigan Democrats criticize protest, traffic

Foren said he did not know of any ambulances that were unable to get to Sparrow. He did note that the entrance to Sparrow's Michigan Avenue campus was not blocked, but the hospital had some concerns about ambulances getting around streets.

Michigan Democrats shared several photos of ambulances in the traffic, saying the protest was a political stunt that "put lives at risk, blocked ambulances, and gave this virus the kind of public gathering it needs to continue its deadly spread," the organization tweeted.

Hertel tweeted during the protest, writing "Protest all you want but blocking a route to a hospital and not leaving room for ambulances to go around is completely irresponsible."

Columnist:Whitmer protesters, you've got our ear. Now please stay home for two weeks.

Looking back at Lansing's history:From letters in 1918 to car horns in 2020, protests live in the bloodstream in Lansing

Hertel told the State Journal he respects everyone's right to protest, but he wishes protesters had left a lane open for emergency vehicles. Sparrow is the area's only Level I trauma center and the heavy traffic the protest caused slow response time.

"When we're talking about a stroke victim, minutes matter," Hertel said. "The Capitol is a place for people to be heard, and I fully respect people's First Amendment rights. I just wish they would consider everyone else while they're doing this."

The protest remained peaceful throughout, although one man was arrested by Michigan State Police for assault. No other arrests were made and no citations were issued.

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