Gov. Gretchen Whitmer reminds Lansing protesters that stay-at-home order is working

LANSING, Mich. — As new protests against stay-at-home orders were staged across the country Monday, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer again addressed the critics of the shut down.

"We are taking a limited action for a limited time, to save people's lives." Whitmer said during a public briefing Monday, April 20, 2020. "Who in this great state actually believes that they care more about jet skiing than saving the lives of the elderly or vulnerable?

The governor also said she respects free speech and the right to gather, but the social distancing is necessary — and temporary — and the protest in Lansing, called "Operation Gridlock," was contrary to the efforts to curb the spread of COVID-19.

"This action isn’t about our individual right to gather," Whitmer said. "It’s about our parents' right to live.”

• Operation Gridlock: Protesters against stay-at-home order block Lansing streets
• COVID-19: Find the latest news on the outbreak in Michigan by visiting the coronavirus page
  

Since "Operation Gridlock" on Wednesday, April 15, 2020, similar protests have been staged across the country, man in political battleground states, including Arizona and California, Ohio, Kentucky, Minnesota, North Carolina and Utah.

Whitmer said the data surrounding the outbreak proves that the stay-at-home order is limiting the spread of the virus.

"I've seen a 15% reduction in the last 12 days," she said. "However, COVID-related hospitalizations remain high."

Whitmer thanked the federal government and private donors for increased support and said more testing was being done with fewer positive results found each day.

She also pointed to a 34% reduction in mobility among Michiganders to illustrate her point that staying home helped prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Whitmer reminded Michiganders of President Donald Trump's comment that fighting COVID-19 was like fighting a war, and said she agrees with that position.

Evoking World War II comparisons, Whitmer said Americans were called to put aside political differences and do what needs to be done to fight the virus. She said the fight would be over when the enemy was beaten.

“This is our moment to show the rest of the country the unbeatable determination, and character, and strength, and fearlessness and pride of the citizens of Michigan," she said.

Whitmer said the 10 days before the expected lifting of the stay-at-home order, on Thursday, April 30, would be some of the most important.

"I will be working with a team of experts to determine what next steps look like, but what happens depends on how these next 10 days go," she said. "To those of you who want to get back to work as soon as possible, stay home. To those of you who want to make plans for June, July and August and want to see them through, stay home.”

She also called on Trump and Vice President Mike Pence to urge people to stay home.

"I asked on the calls, I asked the vice president if we, at the federal level, if they could echo our call to our citizens to stay home in order to stay safe," she said. "We know that the stay-at-home orders across the country are working, and my request was that at the national level, they echo that call to stay home. He conveyed that was something they would do.”