Protest Group Turns into Watchdog Organization

On April 9th, 2020, a group in Michigan began to take shape in reaction to the governor’s executive order that shut down many businesses and ordered others to work from home.  The group is called Michiganders Against Excessive Quarantine. Their first major activity was a protest on April 15th in Lansing called “Operation Gridlock” which drew thousands of participants from around the state.

In a recent Facebook post, the group’s organizers said, “No longer are we simply a group of people against something. We have become Michiganders FOR Protection of Constitutional Rights, Civil Liberties,  Civil Rights and Government  Transparency!”  The group’s organizers state that they have now morphed in a citizen’s watchdog organization.

Elizabeth Richards Schurg, spokesperson for the group, said, “We are actively making our voices known through the legitimate avenues of phone calls, emails and letters. Members are filing complaints and even law suits in PROTECTION  of our rights.”  The group is focused on changing state statutes which they say are not in line with the federal statues, such as transparency laws.  They also plan efforts to abolish or amend statutes concerning Emergency Powers, contracts, HIPPA rights, and FOIA requests, among others.

Reporting for WGRT – Marty Doorn