A little white girl was placed in a Barack Obama mask for a bizarre dance recital during last week’s “Reopen Michigan” protest.
The unidentified dancer performed with another girl, who was wearing a Donald Trump mask, last Thursday. The children were dancing to a song in which the singers complained about the American government stealing from its citizens.
Blackface Obama dance captured at the Reopen Michigan protest yesterday in Lansing. pic.twitter.com/8F6KqmbOT8
— Resist Programming ???? (@RzstProgramming) May 1, 2020
A video clip of the dance routine went viral. As of press time, it was viewed more than 2.3 million times on Twitter. Many viewers were outraged by the display.
Not only is it racist and abhorrent the kids cant dance, but are also subject to the virus. Where the hell is CPS here parents are putting these kids lives in danger?
— Erin Street (@estreet64) May 1, 2020
MAGA, the Evangelical-Right, and conservatives will never forgive America for electing and re-electing President Obama. Their hatred towards President Obama is the foundation of their movement.
— Adrian (@arg7822) May 1, 2020
I don’t know who the dance parents are but those girls are dancing in masks on a wet stage where one doesn’t even have a shoe on all the way and it falls off. Like they don’t care for these girls’ safety either.
— Trina (@gamingangel) May 1, 2020
The thing about is they are Soo young but already are built in racist .. this is Soo damn sad… Why are those young girls dancing at such of an event..
— Dave Jones (@DaveJon70507081) May 1, 2020
The odd routine was not the craziest occurrence at the reopening protest. Hundred of protesters, some carrying guns, stormed Michigan’s Capitol in Lansing to protest the extension of Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s COVID-19 emergency declaration, per The Washington Post. Some of them shouted in police officers’ faces and chanted phrases like “Lock her up!” and “Let us in!”
Despite the chaos and potential legal action from state Republicans, Whitmer extended her order to May 28.
“COVID-19 is an enemy that has taken the lives of more Michiganders than we lost during the Vietnam War,” the governor said in a statement. “While some members of the legislature might believe this crisis is over, common sense and all of the scientific data tells us we’re not out of the woods yet. By refusing to extend the emergency and disaster declaration, Republican lawmakers are putting their heads in the sand and putting more lives and livelihoods at risk.”
Ironically, a Michigan GOP leader later criticized the protesters’ behavior on social media, reported Fox 2 Detroit.
State Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey tweeted “many protested safely and responsibly” but lamented others “are a bunch of jackasses."
“Several other so-called protestors, used intimidation and the threat of physical harm to stir up fear and feed rancor. I condemn their behavior and denounce their tactics,” he tweeted on Friday. “Their actions hurt their cause and steal from the rights of others by creating an environment where responsible citizens do not feel safe enough to express themselves. They do not represent the Senate Republicans. At best, those so-called protestors are a bunch of jackasses."
As of Saturday afternoon, more than 43,000 people have been diagnosed with COVID-19 in Michigan, according to The Detroit Free Press. More than 4,000 people have died in Michigan. Black residents make up 41% of deaths and account for 32% of COVID-19 patients.
