Michigan House Speaker Lee Chatfield: ‘There’s a Lot of Frustrated People’

Michigan House Speaker Lee Chatfield told Breitbart News that the state government must change its approach to addressing coronavirus and its impact on the economy, as frustration bubbled over in the state’s capital in the form of a mass protest Wednesday.

Breitbart News reporter Kyle Olson spoke to Chatfield at Wednesday’s demonstration in Lansing, Michigan, which drew a slew of protesters holding signs, honking their horns, and demanding action from Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D).

“Well I think this is quite a turnout and there’s a lot of frustrated people across the state of Michigan,” Chatfield told Breitbart News. “There’s nothing more American than people coming together and ensuring that their voices are being heard, and that frustration stems from their livelihood being taken away and being told that they can’t work a job and take care of their families.”

Chatfield said it is crucial for the state government to change the way it is approaching the battle against coronavirus.

“We have to change the way we’re approaching the battle on COVID-19 here in the state of Michigan,” he said. “Rather than asking ourselves who’s essential or nonessential, we should be asking what activities can be done safely.”

While he said he remains in consistent communication with the governor and noted that the legislature will be back in session April 30, he said lawmakers have been encouraging Whitmer to adopt a “common sense approach” to the crisis.

“It’s going to take a lot longer to reopen the economy than it took the governor to shut it down, and we have to do all we can to restore people’s livelihoods and allow them to work a job and take care of their families,” he added.

The massive protest comes as Whitmer instituted stringent stay-at-home orders, even restricting a resident’s ability to casually visit friends, family members, or neighbors, and banning the sale of goods deemed “nonessential” at big box retailers.