Michigan: Right Wing Militia Groups To Protest Stay-At-Home Orders

[appalachiablue]

Source: The Guardian

Rightwing militia groups in Michigan plan to rally at the state capitol building on Thursday to protest Democratic governor Gretchen Whitmer's stay-at-home orders that she put in place to slow the deadly spread of the coronavirus pandemic.

Thursday's demonstration will be the latest in a series of protests that started as a demonstration against the lockdown policy but are now generating fears of an eruption of political violence. The state is currently investigating what the Michigan attorney general, Dana Nessel, characterized on Monday as "credible threats" against state Democratic politicians. Her comments followed a report of threats of violence on rightwing social media pages.

Residents posting in the Michiganders Against Excessive Quarantine Facebook page called for Whitmer's assassination. "Wonder how long till she's hit with a shotgun blast," one wrote. Another said they hope Thursday's protesters are "armed to the teeth" because "voting is too late".

Dramatic images from a 30 April protest showed militia members carrying assault rifles while glaring and shouting from the galleries of the state legislature as an emotional debate over extending a stay-at-home order took place. In response, a black lawmaker last week came to Michigan's capitol with an escort of armed black citizens.


Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/may/13/michigan-rightwing-militia-groups-stay-at-home-protest

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Armed Patriot Rally at the state capitol in Lansing, Michigan on April 30, 2020.

[sakabatou]

1. They're not protestors

They want to intimidate others.

[Major Nikon]

4. This is what I see

[LastLiberal in PalmSprings]

67. I feel so sad for the children and parents of these idiots.

I also feel for the medical workers who will risk their own lives when these yahoos end up in their ICSs.

[42bambi]

2. Where are the cops that are sworn to protect the innocent. Are there any left? Sorry, I

am still horrified by the latest killings by cops. Think Breonna. May she forever dance on the wings of an Angel.

[bucolic_frolic]

3. We wink at this at our collective peril

[mpcamb]

19. While it's nice to catch up on what the bottom 1/3 of the class is doing now...

com'on, at least disarm them!

[redstatebluegirl]

5. Start chasing them, they won't get far before they are wheezing.

I really don't think they have the guts to really shoot someone. I might be wrong, they live in their mom's basement so they need the guns to feel like a man.

[paleotn]

6. What's wrong with Michigan?

Arrest the bastards. Take a lesson from.....Texas. I can't believe I just typed that.

https://abcnews.go.com/US/cops-arrest-armed-men-texas-bar-owner-violated/story?id=70509866

[JudyM]

58. Can't help but think that they're triggered by the state's recent all-female Dem leadership sweep.

[paleotn]

65. Probably. Scared lil fellers clutching their steel manhood.

Poor things. Bless their sweet little hearts.

[ripcord]

59. Posts like this worry me

"It isn't illegal but I won't like it so they should be arrested" is a frightening attitude.

[dware]

62. I hear ya,

but it seems to fall on mostly deaf ears.

[paleotn]

64. So walking around with pop guns, meant soley to intimidate law abiding Michiganders...

is perfectly alright? You have a right to protest. You have zero right to intimidate others or to threaten the governor's life. Throw their fucking asses in jail.

[ripcord]

68. We keep coming back to the fact that they didn't break any laws

Open carry is legal in Michigan, there is no law barring people from taking firearms into the state capitol and finally the state police took their temperatures and let them in. The laws in Michigan need to be changed but your personal outrage doesn't make their actions illegal.

[dware]

72. I'm talking about a couple of posters here that advocate

shooting them first in the legs and then if they don't put down their weapons, then shoot them in the head, that's not only repugnant, but also illegal and massive lawsuits would follow.

I find it rather odd that most here oppose the DP, including me, but some would have not problem with the police shooting people with firearms that haven't committed any physical violence.

[paleotn]

63. They don't worry me in the least....

This is not a peaceful protest. This is a case of armed intimidation. No different in my mind to Kluckers walking around in robes, carrying weapons and threatening to attack black folks. This shit needs to stop. Sorry, but your rights have limits. They end precisely where other peoples rights begin.

[ripcord]

69. Since you are so sure I'mn sure you can cite the ordinances they broke.

[Voltaire2]

7. Knucklehead Knazis.

[Evolve Dammit]

8. Unacceptable. MI needs some new laws. Not OK to threaten public officials (or anyone).

They are trying to intimidate and it needs to stop. Don't really care what it takes, as long as it is rational.

[catbyte]

17. We'll never get them with the republican-controlled legislature. Hell, the Capitol Commission

was too chicken shit to ban guns in the Capitol, instead wussing out and forming "a committee" to "study" it. Goddamned worthless pieces of shit.

[Evolve Dammit]

21. I am so sorry. They need a Come to Jesus moment, and to get out of the NRA's pocket

[abqtommy]

9. Does Governor Whitmer have the authority to call in the Michigan National Guard?

asking for a friend...

[roamer65]

23. Yes, she does.

Full power to do so.

[abqtommy]

24. Thanks, that's good to know...

[Hotler]

60. Here is her chance to set an example for other Democratic leaders to stop playing nice. nt

[paleotn]

66. Bingo.

You start intimidating civil servants doing their jobs, you get your fucking ass tossed in jail. And you lose your right to posses your little pop guns. Sorry, but they've proved themselves unable to handle the responsibility of gun ownership.

[Marie Marie]

10. These fools just love having the excuse to dress up in their finest camo,

accessorized by the largest gun in their arsenal and play tough guys. No, I do not underestimate their propensity for violence, some of these guys are crazy but I think they love putting on this little show of force. Look at meeeee, I'm a badass for Feedom.

[yaesu]

12. its up to MSM to quit giving these idiots any recognition. Now that they got noticed they will

just keep making fools out of the law and enforcement.

[yaesu]

11. if the idiots want to play soldier why don't they join the military, oh wait, the military doesn't

want idiots either.

[chowder66]

13. People should dress up as them and get giant dildos made to carry around like guns

like that meme that went around.

[Botany]

14. Shoot 'em

We are in a war already with between 1,500 and 3,000 people a day dying and these
ignorant fuck heads who are doing Putin's bidding want more people to get sick and or
die by not listening to the Drs. & scientists and opening things back up? Go ahead and
shoot 'em. 1st rounds through their legs and if they don't drop their weapons the next
rounds through their heads or chests.

[dware]

45. I can't believe I'm reading this shit on DU.

Shoot them? For what?
What law are they breaking?

[carlvsam]

51. Funny, I have the same opinion

about those who seem to have no problem with the threats of violence and political assassination these degenerate filth are making.

They decided to cross the line when those threats were made, so I have no problem stating that a show of force by the state's National Guard is what is needed now - anything else would be nothing but this:

[dware]

52. So you would shoot them?

Even if they haven't physically attacked anyone?

That's what the poster I was replying to seems to want.

This sure ain't the DU I remember when I first joined in 2001.

[ret5hd]

56. Who were you then? Looks like you joined in 2019 to me.

[dware]

61. I initially joined up in 2001,

but, as I've explained many times here, in 2004, I had to take a hiatus because life interfered, as to what my screen name was back then, I prefer not to divulge that.

[Devil Child]

55. Internet tough guy and violent fantasies conveniently wrapped into one post

[Botany]

57. Walking around with automatic weapons in order to threaten the legal government because their ...

... heads have been filled with hateful crap and all the time spreading this deadly disease to
more and more people. We have no treatment or vaccine for C-19 and the only ways we have
to fight it is shut downs, social isolation, along with testing and tracing and these ass clowns
who are doing Putin's bidding by stirring up social unrest are now trying to stop those proven
methods through intimidation with guns. Give 'em a chance to put their guns down and walk
away if not arrest them and if they threaten any of the law enforcement or legal elected govern-
meant officials then the use of force is not out the question. They are not "freedom fighter patriots"
but domestic terrorists some of whom blocked medical workers from getting into a local hospital
to treat people with C-19.

[Cryptoad]

15. O! such bad asses!

[catbyte]

16. I've had it. Those goddamned terrorists have already infected parts of Michigan that

were virus-free before their first armed dick-waving, bringing it home with them. I hope all of them get sick and die. I can't believe I'm actually saying that much less feeling it. They're killers, though, just like their Dear Leader.

I'm so embarrassed that they're Michiganders.

[ancianita]

18. MI militias are in the FBI's database, first provided by SPLC. Gov needs to call their field office

to get some advice, help and names.

Calling in the National Guard might provoke them, but they'd still be outnumbered, outgunned. At least locally.

This is the Big Dogwhistle to similar groups across the country.

[roamer65]

25. I invite them to come protest in the Ann Arbor area.

We will show them a welcome they will never forget.



But they won’t do it. They know Ann Arbor would be like protesting in Berkeley, CA.

[ancianita]

29. You seem to imply that Ann Arbor would defend against them. Any guns anywhere is a bad idea.

Not just where people can easily be terrorized. But because any outbreak of a gun fight could spark similar moves by other state militias, and could quickly result in the public witnessing battle skirmishes similar to those preceding the Civil War. The current COVID suffering and death would be sidelined when it should be front and center in governors' work and media attention. Trump would be counting on 'violence as entertainment' to distract from the nation's economic depression and his deadly failure.

This kind of civilian conflict-driven thinking only promotes mob violence that reinforces the already passive genocide conducted by this administration's chaotic leadership toward humans in nursing homes, prisons and meat plants.

Guns guarding tattoo parlors proves the militias' wanting to confound the populace about their wants rather than their needs. It's pure power politics.

It's what gives the perfect excuse to this dicktater to shut down the November vote, where guns could easily show up at polling stations, too. He'd love that, but would 'play the high road' and shut it all down.

This is the potential mob stuff that dictators love to manipulate toward permanent rule.

We don't want to go there. This governor needs to nip this in the bud on Thursday.

[roamer65]

32. I said nothing about guns.

Protests do not need guns to be successful.

[ancianita]

33. True, I noted that. But what if they came with guns? How would Ann Arbor deal with them?

[roamer65]

37. Arrest them.

The Ann Arbor police would not put up with that shit.

[ancianita]

40. Could they handle the numbers that will show up at the capital? Should the governor

handle them that way?

[roamer65]

42. I'm sure they would handle it.

[roamer65]

49. The governor's EO on staying at home.

https://www.natlawreview.com/article/michigan-provides-enforcement-guidance-state-s-stay-home-stay-safe-executive-order

Violation is a misdemeanor, punishable up to 90 days in jail and a $500 fine.

Enforce it.

[dware]

50. Ok, thanks for that info. nt.

[kimbutgar]

20. These people are domestic terrorists and should be going forward referred to as terrorists not

Protesters. Carrying weapons of war to the Capitol building, threatening to kill the governor and trying to overthrown a duly elected official are Acts of terror.

We need to reframe it every time they say protestors no they are terrorists.

[Evolve Dammit]

22. Spot on. They are domestic terrorists.

[relayerbob]

38. 100% agreed. They are not protesters

[kimbutgar]

44. We protestors bring signs, terrorists bring assault weapons.

[relayerbob]

48. Yep. Really easy to tell the difference

[msongs]

26. trump white supremacy rallies, not protestors - more BS from fake news lol nt

[Ford_Prefect]

27. I think its telling that so many wear masks while demonstrating yet the want us not to.

[relayerbob]

36. Cowards, ashamed to show their faces

[roamer65]

39. Because they are afraid of fame.

[Gore1FL]

28. This used to bother me. Now I am fine with this. Let them be infected. Let them die.

It will aid the human race genetically. It will aid this country to be rid of them. If they want to kill themselves and their friends and their families so damned bad, let them.

[ancianita]

30. Were it only that simple. What bothers me: it's like the virus, infecting other states' militias.

[Dyedinthewoolliberal]

31. Lock 'em up.

Send the National Guard to set a perimeter so they can't get to the Capitol Building.

[maxrandb]

34. No more half measures. No more hand wringing

Call out the National Guard and if these pricks try to intimidate folks, or get belligerent...arrest them. If they resist arrest, do whatever is necessary to keep the peace.

These cowards do this because they know that they can show up, intimidate and harass people, break the law, and the only thing they have to worry about is if the Pizza Rolls in mom's basement will be pepperoni or sausage.

80% of Americans will fucking scream for joy to see these fucksticks arrested.

[relayerbob]

35. Fucking terrorists

Period.

They need to find themselves in Gitmo. Or SuperMax.

[roamer65]

54. Legal guidance on violating Gov Whitmer's EO to stay at home.

https://www.natlawreview.com/article/michigan-provides-enforcement-guidance-state-s-stay-home-stay-safe-executive-order

Punishable by a misdemeanor with up to 90 days in jail and a $500 fine.

Please enforce it tomorrow, Gov Whitmer.

[appalachiablue]

71. A much slower event compared to the earlier one, which

is good. Due to rain, no legislators for drama as you noted; a brief scuffle over a noosed doll. I hope these rallies wane and disappear soon. Thanks for posting the report.

That's a wild, (and sad) critter with the gun.