LANSING, MI — Hundreds of President Donald Trump’s supporters from across Michigan held a rally outside the state Capitol to dispute the election results.
As they gathered on the Capitol steps, the Associated Press declared Joe Biden the winner.
Demonstrators, some who were armed with long rifles, said they were mobilized through social media apps like Facebook and Parler to protest alleged fraud in one of several #StoptheSteal demonstrations organized around the country.
Attendees voiced various unverified claims Trump’s that loss is the result of “irregularities” that should be investigated, echoing statements made by the president and Republican Party officials this week.
“This division has been brewing my entire life,” said Nick Russell, a 33-year-old Detroit resident. “Trump disrupts the state of things and they’ll do anything to take him out. I’ve never walked around in public with three guns before, so that’s how I feel about this.”
See more images from ‘stop the steal’ protest outside Michigan Capitol
Across the street from the Capitol, Madeline Pliat waved a pride flag and watched as of Trump supporters chanted “lock her up,” “all lives matter” and “four more years.” Pliat was on her way home from a job interview when she passed the scene, and said she quickly came back in a Black Lives Matter shirt to show her support for the new president.
“They’re essentially promoting fascism,” Pliat said. “Whatever they’re doing here doesn’t matter, because Joe Biden won.”
Counter-protesters carrying “Black Lives Matter” flags marched on the sidewalk through downtown Lansing, calling Trump a “loser.” Several members of the group carried protective gear and weapons, including firearms and one person with a baseball bat.
Biden crossed 270 Electoral College votes with a win in Pennsylvania Saturday, rebuilding the Democratic “blue wall” by reclaiming Michigan and Wisconsin. Biden said he was humbled by the victory in a statement shortly before noon.
“With the campaign over, it’s time to put the anger and the harsh rhetoric behind us and come together as a nation,” Biden said. “It’s time for America to unite. And to heal.”
Trump refused to concede, claiming “he won this election” in a statement on Twitter. Several protesters who spoke with MLive claimed Democrats conspired across multiple states to illegally change the election result.
Members of the GOP-led House and Senate oversight committees met Saturday and authorized a subpoena to the Michigan Bureau of Elections for information and communications related to the 2020 primary and general elections. Democrats condemned the exercise as a “partisan spectacle.”
Related: GOP-led committees in Michigan authorize subpoena for election information
The rally comes one day after top state and national Republican officials held a press conference calling for an investigation into various election “irregularities.” Republican National Committee Chair Ronna McDaniel, a Michigan native, said Democratic officials oversaw a “shameful” attempt to block Republicans from serving as election challengers during absentee ballot counting in Oakland County and in Detroit.
Republicans also claimed initial inaccurate reports in Antrim County were cause for broader concern, but no evidence was offered to substantiate the claims.
The Michigan Secretary of State’s office strongly rebuked Republican allegations of ballot counting irregularities in the state Friday evening. In a lengthy statement, the department released a bulleted point-by-point list refuting various allegations made by McDaniel Friday afternoon about the integrity of Michigan’s voting system, saying the claims are “false” and “have no merit.”
Brighton resident Mike Tyrma, 62, said he drove to Lansing to protest an “unfair election.” Tyrma described the scene as a rally and voiced concern about many of the items McDaniel highlighted one day earlier.
“I don’t believe the Secretary of State as far as I can throw her,” Tyrma said. “She’s as crooked as Whitmer … Let’s make this election fair. If it’s not fair, it’s not a free country anymore.”
Demonstrators chanted “lock her up” in reference to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. Some brought signs promoting the far-right conspiracy theory QAnon, while others warned that the “sleeping giant” has been awoken.
“I just want to see the truth,” said Kalamazoo resident Josh Rateike. “It feels like the whole year has been leading up to this. These are the real Americans, these are the ones whose voices matter.”
The Rev. Jeffrey Robideau led a circle of demonstrators wrapped in Trump flags in praying the Rosary near the steps of the Capitol as while protesters raged over megaphones about “globalists and socialists” who “stole” the election.
Stephanie Weiland, a Lansing resident, marched with counter-protesters at the edge of the Capitol lawn.
Weiland said she felt like the “four-year nightmare is finally over.” She was carrying a vuvuzela she’s been waiting to use until the day Trump was defeated and said finally getting to use it Saturday “felt wonderful.”
However, Weiland said Saturday’s scene shows Trump has no intention of peacefully leaving office.
“Trump spent years sowing distrust in the media and government itself,” Weiland said. “The President is trying to make a homemade fatwa. It’s sad. (People) thought we’d all wake up one morning and say: It’s over. People love racism and nationalism more than their country.”
Read more:
Judge discredits Trump campaign’s claims in Michigan ballot lawsuit
Fact check: Michigan officials deny counting ballots from dead people
In Michigan, Black voters helped propel Joe Biden to victory
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