© FlightAwareA screengrab of a flight tracker that charted the trip
Ed Frederick, 45, spent about an hour charting a path over Grand Rapids that spelled out this message for Gov. Gretchen Whitmer: "F U," with an arrow pointing directly over the governor's mansion.
Frederick said he was inspired to hop in a propeller plane Friday morning after Whitmer announced an extension of the state's emergency lockdown order through May 28.
"It's a power trip," Frederick told The Post.
"The government, no matter Democrats or Republicans, always seem like they're trying to do something just to prove they're doing something, without weighing the ramifications."
Frederick, who lives just outside Grand Rapids, said he owns a small business with his sister, and explained that he believed a lockdown was unnecessary for the entire state, considering the largest concentration of cases were in the southeast region around Detroit.
"That's been an issue for a lot of people in the rural counties," he added. "There are 82 counties, but really only four need to be locked down."
Frederick believes Whitmer, a Democrat, has settled with a "draconian" statewide lockdown because a limited lockdown around the major city wouldn't sit well with her base.
"[Whitmer] says this is for the safety of Michigan, but I think it's for the safety of her keeping her votes, because the southeast is highly democratic," he said.
Frederick said he was still getting by, yet sympathized with "the people walking that precipice, living paycheck-to-paycheck."
But Whitmer and health experts have argued that state lockdowns help contain the spread of the coronavirus. She noted Thursday that counties of northern and western Michigan have begun seeing cases double within a week's time.
"We must all continue to be diligent, observe social distancing and limit in-person interactions and services to slow the spread of COVID-19," said Whitmer said in a statement urging residents to "work together."
"Michigan now has more than 40,000 cases of COVID-19. The virus has killed more Michiganders than we lost during the Vietnam war. Extending this order is vital to the health and safety of every Michigander."
Frederick's flight came a day after armed protestors stormed the Michigan statehouse. A licensed gun owner himself, Fredrick said he supported the message but felt protesters should have left their weapons at home because it's "not painting them in a good light."
"We have an open carry, but just because it's legal, doesn't mean you should do it — it's sort of like [the virus]," he added.
"I don't need the government to wipe my tushie every two minutes," he said. "Let me know what the problems are going to be and let me know what the ramifications are; I'm responsible for myself."
Reader Comments