UPDATE: Facebook deletes event for stay-at-home protest in Michigan

Two weeks after cars gridlocked the area surrounding Michigan’s capitol to protest the governor’s stay-at-home order, a second rally in Lansing is being organized.

The event “Rally on the State Capitol Lawn" has been scheduled for 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday, April 30, in downtown Lansing, organizers said.

Michigan’s stay-at-home order, which was signed by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on March 24 and extended April 9, is set to expire at 11:59 p.m. April 30 if it isn’t extended.

Rally organizers picked April 30 because they said legislators would be voting on whether or not to extend the governor’s state of emergency declaration, which also expires April 30.

“The message is this: We’re asking Republicans in the Senate to vote not to extend the state of emergency order,” said Jason Howland, one of the organizers.

Howland said organizers are asking participants to “stay on message as much as possible, keep it clean, be nice to the haters before, during and after the event and come make some noise and let people know what we think.”

The hosts are asking those who are at high risk of having a serious case of the virus, or who have relatives who are high-risk, to protest from their vehicles or stay home. They’re leaving the choice to wear masks up to participants.

Howland said the group believes the coronavirus outbreak has been “blown out of proportion.”

“We believe the media has control over the people and if we allow the media narrative to control us, we’re staying under their control,” he said.

Michigan’s state of emergency declaration was issued by Whitmer on March 10 after the first two presumptive-positive cases of COVID-19 were reported in the state. The declaration gives the governor and her administration additional executive authority to respond to the outbreak.

The virus has since infected nearly 34,000 people in Michigan, including 2,813 who have died.

Michigan Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey has said he doesn’t expect the legislature to agree to extend the stay-at-home order as is, though he predicts some form of restrictions on social gatherings and interactions will continue.

It’s unclear if the governor can extend the order without approval from the legislature. Michigan has two statutes that address emergency powers of the governor, one of which does not require legislative approval, according to Shirkey.

Protesters on April 15 -- mostly in vehicles -- flooded the streets around the Capitol in protest of the stay-at-home order, which prohibits gatherings of any size outside a household, as well as in-person business and activities not deemed essential.

Dozens of protesters left their vehicles, many of whom were not wearing masks as recommended by health officials to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

The April 15 protest -- “Operation Gridlock” -- was hosted by the Michigan Conservative Coalition and Michigan Freedom Fund. The April 30 rally is hosted by five individuals.

As of Wednesday morning, April 22, the Facebook event had 524 people who said they were going, and at least 2,300 people who said they were interested in attending.

Howland said a group of about 100 people are behind the upcoming rally. The group says it has contacted the state’s special events coordinator and received approval.

“We’re filling out the proper paperwork and will have the trash receptacles needed for an event like this,” he said. “We’ve reached out to all state and local authorities to make them aware and Lansing police have agreed to help us with traffic."

Robert Merritt, public information director for the Lansing Police Department, confirmed the organizers of the protest have been in contact with local law enforcement. Lansing police has a planned traffic route for the rally and will communicate that information to the public and protesters to mitigate traffic flow issues.

Merritt said the police department will “actively monitor the situation and take enforcement when appropriate and within consideration of officer safety and resource allocations at the time."

One comment on the Facebook page asked if participants should instead stay in their vehicles to avoid giving the governor ammunition to extend the stay-at-home order. Another comment asked that everyone stand 6 feet apart and consider wearing a mask.

“If this is going to be successful everyone needs to wear PPE and no Flags except American Flags and no Guns,” reads a comment on the Facebook event. “She has to know this is about HER Executive Order and no use it as a Trump Rally or Gun Rights, but about her Excessive Executive Order.”

After the April 15 protest, Whitmer said the event “wasn’t really about the stay-at-home order at all" during an interview on MSNBC.

“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," she said.

Whitmer said she respects residents’ right to protest, but said showing up and being irresponsible endangered not only attendees, but first-responders.

"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.

“This is precisely the worst thing that could have happened, today.”

The April 30 rally’s Facebook event description reads:

“April 30th, our Legislators vote if the Governors State of Emergency Declaration can be extended - We The People make our voices evident - We Vote MICHIGAN OPENS NOW. No more government over reach by executive order, no more restrictive stay-at-home orders, no more restrictions on our purchasing choices and business are to open up unregulated May 1st. Plan to join us for this Revolutionary time and event in Michigan. (This is a peaceful protest).”

CORONAVIRUS 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 on MLive:

White House touts aid to Michigan as nurses call for more protective equipment

Adhering to stay-at-home order now will help businesses reopen sooner, Whitmer says

Michigan healthcare system lays off 2,475 due to ‘dire financial effects’ of coronavirus

State Rep attending ‘Operation Gridlock’ is ‘heartbreaking,’ Jackson mayor says