Thousands of Michiganders showed up at the Michigan Capitol Building Saturday to protest the state’s cancellation of winter sports, which was done in an effort to combat COVID-19.
“A massive turnout at the state capitol today for the ‘Let Them Play’ rally against the postponement of winter sports,” FOX 17’s Zach Harig reported.
A massive turnout at the state capitol today for the ‘Let Them Play’ rally against the postponement of winter sports. @FOX17 pic.twitter.com/pCVQlqIITw
— Zach Harig (@FOX17Zach) January 30, 2021
The protest featured former NFL wide receiver Andre Rison.
NFL legend Andre Rison is on the phone addressing the crowd at the ‘Let Them Play’ rally.
“This is what’s right” Rison says. pic.twitter.com/kRfGefH26W
— Zach Harig (@FOX17Zach) January 30, 2021
Photos from the event featured banners reading #letthemplay, and a sign that said “HERE’S OUR SCIENCE. 99.8% NEGATIVE,” referring to COVID-19 testing.
A few more photos from the ‘Let Them Play’ rally at the State Capitol. @FOX17 pic.twitter.com/dNwDlFhABk
— Zach Harig (@FOX17Zach) January 30, 2021
“The Let Them Play rally was billed as a ‘Peaceful Protest’ and was organized by Coopersville senior basketball player Ethan Coady,” according to FOX 17. “A crowd estimated at between 2,000 and 3,000 adults and youngsters assembled before the rally started at noon. Shortly after that, a group of high-school athletes took the podium with their messages and pleas to resume winter contact sports.”
The report noted that while many athletes in surrounding states are currently finishing their winter sports schedules, Michigan’s athletes have not even been allowed to begin competing.
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D) has imposed perhaps the strictest COVID-19 measures in the country, while the pandemic has raged for nearly a year.
Aside from ordering the shuttering of restaurants, bars, and other places of business, she banned gatherings among non-family members in private homes.
“[A]ll individuals currently living within the State of Michigan are ordered to stay at home or at their place of residence. Subject to the same exceptions, all public and private gatherings of any number of people occurring among persons not part of a single household are prohibited,” the order said.
Eventually, the Michigan Supreme Court struck down that order as unconstitutional.
But fury remains among many Michiganders, whose lives have essentially been put on pause by the state government.
Some Republicans attempted to impeach Whitmer, but that effort was thwarted by senior members of the Republican-controlled legislature.
Most recently, the Michigan GOP Senate has fought back against Whitmer by refusing to confirm her latest batch of executive branch appointees, as reported by The Michigan Star.
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Pete D’Abrosca is a contributor at The Michigan Star and The Star News Network. Follow Pete on Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].
Photo “Michigan Rally” by Zach Harig.
