During a protest against everyday restrictions due to the corona pandemic, armed protesters in the US state of Michigan broke into parliament in the capital Lansing.
According to US media, several hundred people gathered in the entrance area of the building, which is also the official residence of Governor Gretchen Whitmer. Partly armed, masked, and waving posters and flags, they called for an end to the state of emergency.
MPs met for a parliamentary session on Thursday. “Men with guns are shouting at us directly above me,” Senator Dayna Polehanki, who was present, described the situation in a tweet.
Michigan, like other US states, has imposed far-reaching exit restrictions in the fight against the spread of the coronavirus. However, Democrat Whitmer has to deal with increasingly bitter opposition from the Republican majority in parliament. The restrictions had initially been set until the end of April, but had already been extended to mid-May last week. That still applies.
Whitmer also wanted to prolong the state of emergency, but was unable to convince Republicans in parliament. On Thursday, she finally signed an order to enforce such an expansion on her own until May 28.
Some MPs believe the crisis is over, Whitmer said. However, common sense and all scientific data said that this was not the case. By refusing to extend the emergency regulations, Republican MPs just stuck their heads in the sand and put lives at risk. “I won’t let that happen.”
Whitmer is one of the rising figures of the democratic party and has recently become the target of attacks from the ranks of the Republicans, not only in Michigan, but also by US President Donald Trump.
He expressed support for the demonstrators in Michigan. “These are very good people, but they are angry,” Trump wrote on Twitter on Friday. “They want their lives back in a safe way.” The President called on Whitmer to speak to the protesters, find an agreement with them, and put out the “fire.”
Michigan is one of the US states where private individuals are allowed to carry open firearms. Certain places such as banks, places of worship, courts, hospitals or shops that sell alcohol are excluded – but not the parliament building.
In other states, there had previously been protests against measures to contain the corona virus – which Trump had also defended. His government itself has been pushing restrictions on public life for weeks, and the protesters clearly violate guidelines that the White House itself issued. However, Trump argued that some democratic governors had simply gone too far with their arrangements.
Public life in the United States has largely come to a standstill as a result of the corona pandemic. Depending on the state, different exit restrictions and restrictions apply to businesses and businesses. The situation has plunged the country’s economy into a severe crisis and caused unemployment to skyrocket. That is why there are great efforts by Trump as well as by governors to gradually return to normal operations. The first states have already taken the first cautious steps in this direction. Other governors and experts, on the other hand, strongly warn against hasty easing.
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