Summary
White supremacist Avi Rachlin used racist slurs during a Michigan Senate committee hearing, claiming proposed gun legislation unfairly targets white people while suggesting lawmakers focus on Black communities in Detroit.
Representing the extremist group “Groypers for America,” Rachlin falsely argued the bill was retaliation against white Trump supporters.
His comments, including the use of the N-word, were condemned by lawmakers, with Sen. Jim Runestad calling the remarks inappropriate.
The committee ultimately advanced the bill, which would expand the ban on firearms in Michigan’s Capitol, initially requested after armed protests in 2020.
White person from MI here. I don’t want anyone to have easy access to guns, especially white people. And I don’t want them to be allowed where peaceful protests happen. Armed protestors are not protesting they are intimidating.
I do wonder if there is some value in like a “protestor defense volunteer”. Like a group that their job is just to protect the people in protesting areas, regardless of affiliation or reason. Can’t call it a problem if everyone gets defended while exercising their rights, and then protestors don’t have a reason to bring guns.
Edit: I guess that would normally just be the police?
Yeah, most of the time the protesting groups bring their own armed people. They don’t take part in the protests generally though. They stand to the side and watch (at least for leftists, I think the right they’re more directly part of it).
Ideally the police is what you’re asking for, but I wouldn’t put much faith in them.
The police is the arm of the government, so they usually find a bullshit reason to dismiss a protest violently. Unless you are a white christofascist group, then have at it.