After going through about 2.1Gb of video & images (and dealing with some work and home issues over the weekend), I finally whittled things down a little to give anyone who wasn’t able to go to Lansing on Wednesday another perspective on how things went.

Ladies and gentlemen: the story you are about to see is true. Only the names have been changed to protect the innocent.

That out of the way…

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The original plan was to head down I-69, meet up with some friends en route (since they had no clue how to get around Lansing) and then take part in the rally.

Easy peasy, right?

Well not so much. We got separated getting off in Lansing and didn’t get a chance to meet up again until later in the afternoon. So these are from my truck.

Got a little worried at first on the turnout. Once I passed them around Capac, things started looking promising.

Instead of meeting up at the Kroger’s on Saginaw, we just agreed to head towards downtown as best as we could, with the plan to meet up later in the day. Noticed the above and below picture from Oakland west of 127.

Gasp!

Are those…open lanes?

 

With an obviously larger amount of gridlock, people felt it necessary to walk and protest in the gridlock. Quick side note: Anyone doing anything not closely adhereing to the guidelines have had their id’s concealed. I’m not going to have the other side going on a fishing expedition here.

 

Do my ears deceive me? Is that the distant rumble of a Cummins I hear?

One of the things that I had admired about Wednesday was the camaraderie. A good example is this local business that had someone park their truck at the end of their driveway with water in case anyone wanted any. Yes, they did adhere to the “social distancing”.

Below are a few examples of the signs. It should be noted that I didn’t come across anything that was NSFW. Out of frame, out of focus or duplicate signs, yes. NSFW, no.

This gentleman was walking back and forth on the sidewalk. Not going up to vehicles. So, you “social distancing” nannies can relax!

It’s all fun and games until the cops show up. The MSP had one of their helicopter orbiting the Downtown Area for most of the afternoon. Even though I shot a ton of images and video just in case, they were all very profession with the participants in the protest. Hmmm, I wonder why? Anyway, anything showing any of them not adhering to Gov Witless’ edicts WILL NOT be shown here out of “professional courtesy”.

Finally made the turn onto Capitol. It shouldn’t be long now…

Who doesn’t like a giant walking inflatable dinosaur. Click on the image to embiggen their sign.

Boats and campers? Shouldn’t you guys be out enjoying yourselves….oh, yeah! Gov. Witless’ incomprehensible edicts.

Finally, in the home stretch. Note that people DID NOT block intersections.

Enjoying a good vantage point of the protest taking place across the street.

Tried to double-back to meet up with my group on Washington. No such luck.

Did one more pass around the Capitol. Still lots of traffic on Shiawasee.

Finally, broke off to meet up with my friends so that we could spend a little bit of time together at the Flying Hook before heading back home.

Just to wrap things up, and because I do want to call it a night, I would like to give a shout-out to the good people at the Michigan Conservative Coalition for their work done in organizing this event and to the others who helped to promote it.

It’s one thing when you sit there and ask yourself if anyone else is concerned about the unremitting attack upon our Constitutional Rights by a sitting governor, aided by a republican legislature and a complacent media that just doesn’t care as demonstrated by their condescending tone in their reporting on this story.

Events like this squash that notion very quickly.

People ARE noticing and they do care.

There is still hope for the Republic.