Michigan State Rep. Sarah Anthony received some extra protection on her way to work on Wednesday.

During another protest to reopen the state last week, armed citizens demanded the state end its coronavirus lockdown.

According to the Lansing City Pulse, an all-Black entourage, at least three of whom were carrying rifles, escorted Anthony on her way to the State Capitol. Anthony said she didn't outright ask for that type of support but felt comforted by the extra security presence.

“We were all just appalled by the lack of support and lack of security that I had, that other legislators had, and the fact that a lot of the demonstrators last week were adorning many racist, anti-Semitic signage. I think it just triggered a lot of folks, especially African Americans,” Anthony said.

Anthony joined other lawmakers for a morning committee meeting. According to reports, her impromptu security detail had little issue entering the building.

Michael Lynn Jr., a firefighter and Lansing community activist, helped organize the group of armed bodyguards for Anthony in hopes of reworking the conversation around who’s allowed to have guns in this country.

“We want to change the narrative, first of all. We want people to understand that people of color can come out here with guns just the same as anybody else can,” Lynn said.

He said he watched a video Anthony posted to Facebook the day of the protest last week that really inspired him to action. In the video, Anthony talked about seeing protestors occupying the Capitol lawn while carrying confederate flags, Nazi symbolism and other racist imagery from the window of her office.

“The majority of the protesters were white,” Anthony said. “I’m still not exactly sure on the connection between confederate flags and Nazi symbolism. They just had no connection to the stay-at-home orders. The fact they were carrying guns openly while we voted was unnerving.”

The legislator said she is on such high alert because she feels Michigan police have largely failed to provide adequate security support. She explained that she didn’t find out until this week that police could have escorted her to her car at her request.

“I could hear the fear in her voice during that protest,” Lynn said. “It was the visual of her being that scared to go to work. It meant we had to do something. We came out here today to make sure we could provide some protection, even if it’s only just to make her feel better.”

The Michigan Capitol Commission is investigating whether guns should be allowed inside the Capitol, according to the Detroit Free Press. The practice of allowing open carry inside the building came under national scrutiny after the demonstrations last week.

There’s ambiguity around whether the commission has the authority to restrict firearms inside the building or whether that would call for an adjustment to state law, per the Lansing City Pulse.

Both Anthony and Lynn are opposed to allowing open carry inside the Capitol. Instead, they said they hope to set an example in exercising their rights and ensuring everyone feels more represented in terms of the Second Amendment.

“There are certain things that are just inappropriate,” Lynn said. “We don’t take guns in the courthouse. We don’t take guns into city hall. Why would we take guns of this caliber into the Capitol? I have 150 rounds on me right now. I could make terror. This could wreak havoc.”

Anthony said carrying a concealed weapon should be permissible but that she would also support a complete ban on firearms inside the Capitol that would only exclude law enforcement officials.

Reopen-Michigan

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