Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D) revealed the main reason why legislators were afraid to go into work on Thursday.
Some Michigan residents are not happy with Whitmer’s decision to extend the state’s stay-at-home order and showed up at the state capitol to voice their frustration.
John Berman, the host of CNN’s “New Day,” asked Whitmer why the state capitol was shut down.
“The legislator apparently didn’t want to be around for this activity that many of them incited, frankly,” Whitmer said. “That’s why apparently they decided not to come into work yesterday.”
The state House and Senate adjourned until Tuesday.
Watch her comments below:
Michigan @GovWhitmer: "These are not just citizens that are unhappy about having to stay home. This is a political rally, essentially, when the big float rolls in that is about Donald Trump… it's an organized political statement and it's unfortunate"https://t.co/4WqNdBuaxI pic.twitter.com/Mk1TU3vBiI
— CNN This Morning with Kasie Hunt (@CNNThisMorning) May 15, 2020
Whitmer was immediately met with harsh opposition as protesters arrived at the state capitol when she made the decision to issue executive orders to extend the emergency and disaster declaration, as IJR previously reported.
Berman asked Whitmer why she believes protesters are showing up with firearms and what message they are trying to send by doing so.
“These are not just citizens who are unhappy about having to stay home. This is a political rally essentially,” Whitmer said.
She added:
“When the big float rolls in that is about Donald Trump. When people are showing up with guns. When people are showing up with things like confederate flags. It tells you that this really isn’t about the lockdown or about a perception of a stay home order. It’s really an organized political statement and it’s unfortunate.”
Whitmer recently came out in support of banning guns inside of the state capitol, as IJR previously reported.
Berman asked Whitmer if Vice President Mike Pence would help her discourage the protests.
She said she asked a few times and it was “acknowledged” that she made the request.
During an appearance on “The View” in recent days, Whitmer noted the protests “undermine” the efforts put into place to mitigate the effects of the coronavirus.