Michigan's stay-home order didn't stop a Lansing parade supporting health care workers
Kristan Obeng
LANSING – Kayla Bytwerk was ready to lead a procession of vehicles down Michigan Avenue for a parade she co-organized to support health care workers in Lansing.
It was nearly 6 p.m. on Saturday. Her husband, Ryan, was behind the wheel of the family car. Her three children squealed with excitement in the backseat.
And Bytwerk, a nurse at Sparrow Hospital, wanted to support her colleagues while showing her children the importance of appreciating the sacrifices of health care workers during the coronavirus pandemic.
“They need our support,” Bytwerk said. “It’s an emotionally and physically exhausting job. They are risking their lives to take care of patients.”
The parade kicked off with Bytwerk and her co-organizer and cousin, Julie Bytwerk, leading a steady stream of honking vehicles along a route that included Sparrow’s main and St. Lawrence campuses, as well as McLaren Greater Lansing Hospital.
Prior to the festivities, the two women contacted Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s office and the police to alert them to their plans for the parade, Bytwerk said.
But their decision to organize the parade drew much criticism among city officials.
"While their intention was admirable, the fact of the matter is the way we support first responders is to stay home, avoid social contact and allow law enforcement to do their job," said Peter Spadafore, Lansing City Council president. "There is a stay-home order in place for a reason, and we should take that seriously."
Parade draws outrage from city officials
The parade moved forward amid the state’s stay-home order, which led to online condemnation from more city officials.
Lansing City Council Member Brandon Betz called the event "endangerment" on social media.
"This group does not have a special event permit and therefore will be operating illegally. The mayor will have police on the scene," he wrote in his post. "There will be fines associated with this activity."
READ MORE:A guide to daily life in Greater Lansing during the coronavirus pandemic
Betz didn't immediately respond to a phone call for comment on Saturday night.
Spadafore said he isn't sure if there will be consequences for the organizers, but he was sure about one thing:
"Flattening the curve and staying home," he said, "that’s how we honor first responders and recognize the work they are doing."
A parade amid a pandemic
A police vehicle watched from a distance, but everything seemed to go as the Bytwerk family intended.
“No one should be outside their cars,” Bytwerk said. "We encouraged people to honk and pray for people on the front lines and cheer.”
And that’s exactly what drivers did.
Passengers, which included dogs, stuck their heads out their car windows and waved excitedly, with smiles on their faces.
Four Sparrow staffers waved back from their position outside the hospital. They were among the few figures standing outside to watch the procession.
At least 10 hospital workers gathered in the skyway connecting Sparrow’s two buildings.
Four others peered out from windows in Sparrow’s neighboring parking garage to see and hear what seemed to be a never-ending display of support.
No voices were distinguishable over the sounds.
But the actions of the drivers and their passengers were clear.
They flashed signs that proclaimed, “Thank you for your work” and “Heroes!”
“As I drove by Sparrow main, I had tears in my eyes knowing the sacrifice these caregivers are making, and I was proud to be one of them,” Bytwerk said. “I have received countless messages from my fellow nurses about how moved and appreciated they felt by the community.”
“And this is what made it worth it – to know that the healthcare workers, administrators, first responders, essential workers and people infected with the disease right here in our community feel loved, cared for and supported,” she added.
Contact LSJ reporter Kristan Obeng at KObeng@lsj.com or 517-267-1344. Follow her on Twitter @KrissyObeng.
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