Thousands of demonstrators in cars with horns honking thronged around Michigan’s state Capitol on Wednesday, some chanting “lock her up,” to protest against stay-at-home orders imposed by governor Gretchen Whitmer to stop the coronavirus.

Traffic around the Lansing statehouse was jammed for hours by the rally, dubbed “Operation Gridlock” and organised by the Republican-aligned Michigan Conservative Coalition to challenge the Democratic governor’s social-distancing measures, among the strictest in the nation.

Michigan has faced one of the country’s fastest-growing infection rates for the new coronavirus, with more than 27,000 confirmed cases and nearly 1,800 deaths from Covid-19, the highly contagious lung disease caused by the virus.

But a backlash against Whitmer’s stay-at-home directive, which she last week extendedtill the end of April while toughening the terms of the order, has taken on political overtones.

Critics of Whitmer, widely seen as a potential running mate for presumed Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden, object to what they call inconsistencies and over-reach in her response to the public health crisis.

Whitmer also is a co-chair of Biden’s campaign and previously drew national attention by trading jabs with Republican President Donald Trump over the spread of the coronavirus in her state.

The latest version of her executive order bars residents from travel between homes or using motorboats, and it prohibits retail sales of home furnishings, garden supplies or paint while leaving marijuana dispensaries open.

Michigan is one of 42 states where governors have ordered residents to remain indoors except for necessary outings like grocery shopping or doctor's visits, while closing schools, universities and non-essential businesses.

Although the unprecedented restrictions have worked to curtail the spread of the virus, they also have strangled the economy, idling millions of workers, upending financial markets and leading to forecasts of a deep recession.

The debate over how and when to reopen the economy has led to friction between Trump and the states, particularly Democratic governors whom he branded as“mutineers.” The boisterous but peaceful midday rally in Lansing drew at least 2,000 vehicles filled with protesters, their horns and car radios blaring.