More protests are expected at the state Capitol in Lansing Thursday as Michigan begins a second month under a mandatory shelter in place order.
Two weeks ago, Lansing streets were clogged with cars and a few gun-toting protestors who’d come to decry Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s stay at home order.
Now, the group Michigan United For Liberty plans to occupy the Capitol grounds on Thursday morning.
Lansing Police Chief Daryl Green says his department is prepared to keep the peace.
“We have the necessary resources,” says Green. “We’ll have officers on foot, on bicycles, in cars. We’ll be watching surveillance cameras. We’ll be engaging the community of protesters that will be out there; we’ll be engaging the counter-protesters.”
Green says he’s concerned for the safety of his officers who may interact with people who might not be wearing face masks at the protests.
He calls performing that duty a “calculated risk.”