State of the State: Union Protests Outside Capitol

Security was tighter than ever as Gov. Rick Snyder made his third "State of the State" address. Though anti-right-to-work demonstrators arrived at the State Capitol two hours earlier hoping to get inside the building, state police blocked all doors except to anyone pre-credentialed.

Demonstrators were still determined to have their voices heard. They marched around the capitol banging plastic industrial buckets and chanting into megaphones. At 7 p.m., when the speech began, they consolidated as close to the building as police would allow, hoping to create enough of a racket to be heard inside the building.

Demonstrators carried pictures of lawmakers who approved the right-to-work law. The crowd was far smaller than ones when lawmakers were considering the bill.

Off-camera, one woman described her incomprehension to the course of events. "They just don't listen to us. How could they pass this law?" she asked. Several demonstrators carried signs saying that the law is a pay cut or will lead to pay cuts.  

When asked if that's been happening, one woman carrying such a sign could not respond. She did not speak English.

A demonstrator carrying a similar sign said he came to speak out against "union-busting." He thought his union, the SEIU, was worth his time and money even though he was making just over minimum wage.

Watch the video below for coverage of the protests:

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