A group calling itself the Michigan Conservative Coalition organized a protest of the state’s stay-at-home order which attempts to maintain social distancing by having everyone remain in their cars. The event, called Operation Gridlock, took place outside the state capitol in Lansing today at noon.

Hundreds, perhaps thousands, of people drove into Lansing and have surrounded the Michigan Capitol Building to create a traffic jam – a symbolic gesture of disagreement with Gretchen Whitmer’s Stay Safe, Stay Home directive…

Arguing that more emphasis be placed on reopening business, many residents are worried the restrictive social distancing measures add only a marginal benefit at the expense of the state’s economy.

The protest was supposed to start at noon on Wednesday but people were already packing the roads by 9 a.m. and hundreds of people were standing in front of the Capitol and not social distancing. More drivers were jammed on Capitol Ave, where the one-way three-lane road was bumper to bumper for several miles north of the Capitol.

You can read the group’s flyer promoting the protest here. It reads in part:

We are all concerned for those afflicted with COVID 19.  Yes, many of the personal behaviors we have been reminded to use are good practices.  Wash your hands. Cover your cough. Stay home if you are sick.

That said,  Michiganders are fed up!

Our Governor and her allies are infecting ALL of us with their radical, progressive agenda.  There is NO reasoned and public plan to promote our overall physical and economic health!…

Whitmer wants Michigan to be in gridlock. We plan to give her a gridlock in Lansing!

Stay in your vehicle as the “Whitmer police” will likely be out to enforce social distancing. That said we need to display our flags, take signs, make noise and make our unhappiness known!

Local reporters were on hand to cover the protest which got started before the published noon start time.

More than an hour before the “Operation Gridlock” rally, trucks bedecked in flags, pulling boat trailers, sporting hand painted messages on their roofs have gathered around the state Capitol.
A decent amount of protesters are on foot as well. pic.twitter.com/I9lEfITahU

— Beth LeBlanc (@DNBethLeBlanc) April 15, 2020

Following the Operation Gridlock rally in Lansing, blocks from the Capitol, on bike. part 1 pic.twitter.com/4WUKVT7BPi

— MIRSnews.com (@MIRSnews) April 15, 2020

And the cars kept coming:

Bumper-to-bumper traffic at Lansing exit for the West Michigan convoy headed to #OperationGridlock. Protest at the Capitol already going on. More pics from Lowell @wzzm13 pic.twitter.com/iKo4lo2dfa

— Noah Fromson (@NoahFromson) April 15, 2020

Not everyone is pleased about the protest:

Seymour Ave, about a half mile from the Captiol. Traffic stalled, horns honking. A man opens the door of his home and yells “Go home, stupid m***erf***ers.” @wzzm13 pic.twitter.com/yR6IgaPeeg

— Noah Fromson (@NoahFromson) April 15, 2020

The cars were honking their horns as they passed the Capitol.

Honking vehicles circling the capital in Lansing. @WOODTV pic.twitter.com/PXjAuH9lFq

— Heather Walker (@_HeatherWalker) April 15, 2020

Talking to lots of small business owners out here. Operation Gridlock protesting the extended stay-at-home order from @GovWhitmer. @WOODTV pic.twitter.com/DFf18VNZ4d

— Heather Walker (@_HeatherWalker) April 15, 2020

Some people did get out of their cars to protest on the Capitol grounds:

From the Capitol steps for Operation Gridlock. pic.twitter.com/KrWHrHBgpE

— MIRSnews.com (@MIRSnews) April 15, 2020

Another look at #OperationGridlock happening in downtown Lansing as people protest @GovWhitmer's stay-at-home order. pic.twitter.com/Q2S1WeI1GW

— Barrett Tryon (@btreports) April 15, 2020

The focus of much of the ire in Lansing is Gov. Whitmer’s recent extension of a stay-at-home order which is one of the most restrictive (and confusing) in the country. Jazz will have more on that shortly. Meanwhile, here’s a local news report on the protest: