Nam Y. Huh/APA protester holds a sign outside the Thompson Center in downtown Chicago on May 1, 2020. The Friday demonstration is the latest in a series of protests around the country against stay-at-home orders designed to slow the spread of the coronavirus.
Nam Y. Huh/APProtesters rally against Illinois stay-at-home order outside the Thompson Center in downtown Chicago on May 1, 2020.
Nam Y. Huh/APProtesters rally against Illinois stay-at-home order outside the Thompson Center in downtown Chicago on May 1, 2020.
Barry Williams/for New York Daily NewsAnti-shutdown protesters wave flags and signs as they gather at City Hall Park on May 1, 2020 in Manhattan.
Barry Williams/for New York Daily NewsAnti-shutdown protesters wave flags and signs as they gather at City Hall Park on May 1, 2020 in Manhattan.
Barry Williams/for New York Daily NewsAnti-shutdown protesters wave flags and signs as they gather at City Hall Park on May 1, 2020 in Manhattan.
Barry Williams/for New York Daily NewsAnti-shutdown protesters walk past New York City Hall after being cleared from City Hall Park due to spacing issues on May 1, 2020 in Manhattan.
Paul Sancya/APA protester carries his rifle at the State Capitol in Lansing, Mich. on Thursday, April 30, 2020. Hoisting American flags and handmade signs, protesters returned to the state Capitol to denounce Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's stay-home order and business restrictions due to the coronavirus pandemic while lawmakers met to consider extending her emergency declaration hours before it expires.
Paul Sancya/APProtesters rally at the State Capitol in Lansing, Mich. on Thursday, April 30, 2020.
Paul Sancya/APA protester wears protective equipment at the State Capitol in Lansing, Mich. on Thursday, April 30, 2020.
Matthew Dae Smith/Lansing State Journal/APProtesters rally at the state Capitol in Lansing, Mich., Thursday, April 30, 2020.
Matthew Dae Smith/APKaren Spitler of Lansing, a counter-protester, holds a sign during a rally at the state Capitol in Lansing, Mich. on Thursday, April 30, 2020.
Matthew Dae Smith/Lansing State Journal via APProtesters rally at the state Capitol in Lansing, Mich. on Thursday, April 30, 2020.
Paul Sancya/APProtesters rally at the State Capitol in Lansing, Mich. on Thursday, April 30, 2020.
Paul Sancya/APLinda Clark wears a Liberate Michigan face mask in Lansing, Mich. on Thursday, April 30, 2020.
Eric Gay/APProtesters rally at the Texas State Capitol to speak out against Texas' handling of the COVID-19 outbreak, in Austin, Texas, Saturday, April 18, 2020. Austin and many other Texas cities remain under stay-at-home orders due to the COVID-19 outbreak except for essential personal.
Jeff Gritchen/APA crowd of people gather in Huntington Beach, Calif. to protest coronavirus closures on Friday, April 17, 2020.
Jim Mone/APProtesters gather outside Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz' official residence Friday, April 17, 2020, in St. Paul, Minn., to call on him to loosen stay-at-home restrictions imposed across the state because of the coronavirus.
Eric Gay/APProtesters rally at the Texas State Capitol to speak out against Texas' handling of the COVID-19 outbreak, in Austin, Texas, Saturday, April 18, 2020.
Michael Dwyer/APPeople attend a demonstration against the government mandated lockdown due to concern about COVID-19 at the State House, Saturday, April 18, 2020, in Concord, N.H.
Eric Gay/APProtesters rally at the Texas State Capitol to speak out against Texas' handling of the COVID-19 outbreak, in Austin, Texas, Saturday, April 18, 2020.
Michael Conroy/APProtesters gather outside the Indiana governor's mansion in Indianapolis, Saturday, April 18, 2020, to protest against the governor's stay-at-home order to ease restrictions meant to control the spread of the coronavirus.
Mark J. Terrill/APProtesters demonstrate against stay-at-home orders that were put in place due to the COVID-19 outbreak, on Friday, April 17, 2020, in Huntington Beach, Calif.
Michael Conroy/APProtesters gather outside the Indiana Governor's mansion in Indianapolis, Saturday, April 18, 2020, urging Gov. Eric Holcomb to back off restrictions on Indiana residents because of the coronavirus, and restart the economy.
Stubbe, Glen/APHundreds of protesters gather outside Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz' official residence, Friday, April 17, 2020 in St. Paul, Minn. President Donald Trump tweeted his support for a protest outside Gov. Tim Walz's official residence in St. Paul against Minnesota's continued stay-at-home order.
David Zalubowski/APA protester waves a placard during a car protest against the stay-at-home order issued by Colorado Gov. Jared Polis to stem the spread of the new coronavirus Sunday, April 19, 2020, in Denver.
Mark Humphrey/APProtesters rally at the Tennessee state capitol to speak out against the state's handling of the COVID-19 outbreak Sunday, April 19, 2020, in Nashville, Tenn.
Elaine Thompson/APDemonstrators crowd together at a protest opposing Washington state's stay-home order to slow the coronavirus outbreak Sunday, April 19, 2020, in Olympia, Wash.
Elaine Thompson/APSpencer Lowell walks through the crowd as he sells flags at a protest opposing Washington state's stay-home order to slow the coronavirus outbreak Sunday, April 19, 2020, in Olympia, Wash. Washington Gov. Jay Inslee has blasted President Donald Trump's calls to "liberate" parts of the country from stay-at-home and other orders that are designed to combat the spread of the coronavirus. Inslee says that Trump is fomenting a potentially deadly "insubordination" among his followers before the pandemic is contained.
David Zalubowski/APA protester waves an American flag during a car protest against the stay-at-home order issued by Colorado Governor Jared Polis to stem the spread of the new coronavirus Sunday, April 19, 2020, in Denver.
David Zalubowski/APA protester waves a placard during a car protest against the stay-at-home order issued by Colorado Governor Jared Polis to stem the spread of the new coronavirus Sunday, April 19, 2020, in Denver.
Robin Rudd/APSome of the protestors drove their cars repeatedly across the Market Street Bridge in Chattanooga, Tennessee on Sunday, April 19, 2020. A Freedom Rally was held on the Market Street Bridge to protest governmental measures taken during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Mark Humphrey/APProtesters rally at the Tennessee state capitol to speak out against the state's handling of the COVID-19 outbreak Sunday, April 19, 2020, in Nashville, Tenn.
Elaine Thompson/APDemonstrators disregard social distancing guidelines as they crowd together at a protest opposing Washington state's stay-home order to slow the coronavirus outbreak Sunday, April 19, 2020, in Olympia, Wash. Washington Gov. Jay Inslee has blasted President Donald Trump's calls to "liberate" parts of the country from stay-at-home and other orders that are designed to combat the spread of the coronavirus. Inslee says that Trump is fomenting a potentially deadly "insubordination" among his followers before the pandemic is contained.
Elaine Thompson/APInitiative promoter and gubernatorial candidate Tim Eyman disregards social distancing guidelines as he greets supporters in a crowd at a protest opposing Washington state's stay-home order to slow the coronavirus outbreak Sunday, April 19, 2020, in Olympia, Wash.
Elaine Thompson/APDemonstrators crowd together at a protest opposing Washington state's stay-home order to slow the coronavirus outbreak Sunday, April 19, 2020, in Olympia, Wash.
Elaine Thompson/APA man holds a sign in view of the Capitol building at a protest opposing Washington state's stay-home order to slow the coronavirus outbreak Sunday, April 19, 2020, in Olympia, Wash.
Elaine Thompson/APJustin Bailey, of Tacoma, Wash., holds an assault rifle and a flag as he stands at a protest opposing Washington state's stay-home order to slow the coronavirus outbreak Sunday, April 19, 2020, in Olympia, Wash.
Paul Sancya/APSteve Polet holds a sign during a protest at the State Capitol in Lansing, Mich., Wednesday, April 15, 2020. Flag-waving, honking protesters drove past the Michigan Capitol on Wednesday to show their displeasure with Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's orders to keep people at home and businesses locked during the new coronavirus COVID-19 outbreak.
Paul Sancya/APDawn Perreca protests on the front steps of the Michigan State Capitol building in Lansing, Mich., Wednesday, April 15, 2020.
Paul Sancya/APProtesters carry rifles near the steps of the Michigan State Capitol building in Lansing, Mich., Wednesday, April 15, 2020. Flag-waving, honking protesters drove past the Michigan Capitol on Wednesday to show their displeasure with Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's orders to keep people at home and businesses locked during the new coronavirus COVID-19 outbreak.
ALBERTO PIZZOLI/AFP via Getty ImagesUS director Michael Moore arrives for the screening of the film "The Specials (Hors Normes)" at the 72nd edition of the Cannes Film Festival in Cannes, southern France, on May 25, 2019.
Nam Y. Huh/APA protester holds a sign outside the Thompson Center in downtown Chicago on May 1, 2020. The Friday demonstration is the latest in a series of protests around the country against stay-at-home orders designed to slow the spread of the coronavirus.
ALBERTO PIZZOLI/AFP via Getty ImagesUS director Michael Moore arrives for the screening of the film "The Specials (Hors Normes)" at the 72nd edition of the Cannes Film Festival in Cannes, southern France, on May 25, 2019.
Nam Y. Huh/APProtesters rally against Illinois stay-at-home order outside the Thompson Center in downtown Chicago on May 1, 2020.
Nam Y. Huh/APProtesters rally against Illinois stay-at-home order outside the Thompson Center in downtown Chicago on May 1, 2020.
Barry Williams/for New York Daily NewsAnti-shutdown protesters wave flags and signs as they gather at City Hall Park on May 1, 2020 in Manhattan.
Barry Williams/for New York Daily NewsAnti-shutdown protesters wave flags and signs as they gather at City Hall Park on May 1, 2020 in Manhattan.
Barry Williams/for New York Daily NewsAnti-shutdown protesters wave flags and signs as they gather at City Hall Park on May 1, 2020 in Manhattan.
Barry Williams/for New York Daily NewsAnti-shutdown protesters walk past New York City Hall after being cleared from City Hall Park due to spacing issues on May 1, 2020 in Manhattan.
Paul Sancya/APA protester carries his rifle at the State Capitol in Lansing, Mich. on Thursday, April 30, 2020. Hoisting American flags and handmade signs, protesters returned to the state Capitol to denounce Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's stay-home order and business restrictions due to the coronavirus pandemic while lawmakers met to consider extending her emergency declaration hours before it expires.
Paul Sancya/APProtesters rally at the State Capitol in Lansing, Mich. on Thursday, April 30, 2020.
Paul Sancya/APA protester wears protective equipment at the State Capitol in Lansing, Mich. on Thursday, April 30, 2020.
Matthew Dae Smith/Lansing State Journal/APProtesters rally at the state Capitol in Lansing, Mich., Thursday, April 30, 2020.
Matthew Dae Smith/APKaren Spitler of Lansing, a counter-protester, holds a sign during a rally at the state Capitol in Lansing, Mich. on Thursday, April 30, 2020.
Matthew Dae Smith/Lansing State Journal via APProtesters rally at the state Capitol in Lansing, Mich. on Thursday, April 30, 2020.
Paul Sancya/APProtesters rally at the State Capitol in Lansing, Mich. on Thursday, April 30, 2020.
Paul Sancya/APLinda Clark wears a Liberate Michigan face mask in Lansing, Mich. on Thursday, April 30, 2020.
Eric Gay/APProtesters rally at the Texas State Capitol to speak out against Texas' handling of the COVID-19 outbreak, in Austin, Texas, Saturday, April 18, 2020. Austin and many other Texas cities remain under stay-at-home orders due to the COVID-19 outbreak except for essential personal.
Jeff Gritchen/APA crowd of people gather in Huntington Beach, Calif. to protest coronavirus closures on Friday, April 17, 2020.
Jim Mone/APProtesters gather outside Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz' official residence Friday, April 17, 2020, in St. Paul, Minn., to call on him to loosen stay-at-home restrictions imposed across the state because of the coronavirus.
Eric Gay/APProtesters rally at the Texas State Capitol to speak out against Texas' handling of the COVID-19 outbreak, in Austin, Texas, Saturday, April 18, 2020.
Michael Dwyer/APPeople attend a demonstration against the government mandated lockdown due to concern about COVID-19 at the State House, Saturday, April 18, 2020, in Concord, N.H.
Eric Gay/APProtesters rally at the Texas State Capitol to speak out against Texas' handling of the COVID-19 outbreak, in Austin, Texas, Saturday, April 18, 2020.
Michael Conroy/APProtesters gather outside the Indiana governor's mansion in Indianapolis, Saturday, April 18, 2020, to protest against the governor's stay-at-home order to ease restrictions meant to control the spread of the coronavirus.
Mark J. Terrill/APProtesters demonstrate against stay-at-home orders that were put in place due to the COVID-19 outbreak, on Friday, April 17, 2020, in Huntington Beach, Calif.
Michael Conroy/APProtesters gather outside the Indiana Governor's mansion in Indianapolis, Saturday, April 18, 2020, urging Gov. Eric Holcomb to back off restrictions on Indiana residents because of the coronavirus, and restart the economy.
Stubbe, Glen/APHundreds of protesters gather outside Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz' official residence, Friday, April 17, 2020 in St. Paul, Minn. President Donald Trump tweeted his support for a protest outside Gov. Tim Walz's official residence in St. Paul against Minnesota's continued stay-at-home order.
David Zalubowski/APA protester waves a placard during a car protest against the stay-at-home order issued by Colorado Gov. Jared Polis to stem the spread of the new coronavirus Sunday, April 19, 2020, in Denver.
Mark Humphrey/APProtesters rally at the Tennessee state capitol to speak out against the state's handling of the COVID-19 outbreak Sunday, April 19, 2020, in Nashville, Tenn.
Elaine Thompson/APDemonstrators crowd together at a protest opposing Washington state's stay-home order to slow the coronavirus outbreak Sunday, April 19, 2020, in Olympia, Wash.
Elaine Thompson/APSpencer Lowell walks through the crowd as he sells flags at a protest opposing Washington state's stay-home order to slow the coronavirus outbreak Sunday, April 19, 2020, in Olympia, Wash. Washington Gov. Jay Inslee has blasted President Donald Trump's calls to "liberate" parts of the country from stay-at-home and other orders that are designed to combat the spread of the coronavirus. Inslee says that Trump is fomenting a potentially deadly "insubordination" among his followers before the pandemic is contained.
David Zalubowski/APA protester waves an American flag during a car protest against the stay-at-home order issued by Colorado Governor Jared Polis to stem the spread of the new coronavirus Sunday, April 19, 2020, in Denver.
David Zalubowski/APA protester waves a placard during a car protest against the stay-at-home order issued by Colorado Governor Jared Polis to stem the spread of the new coronavirus Sunday, April 19, 2020, in Denver.
Robin Rudd/APSome of the protestors drove their cars repeatedly across the Market Street Bridge in Chattanooga, Tennessee on Sunday, April 19, 2020. A Freedom Rally was held on the Market Street Bridge to protest governmental measures taken during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Mark Humphrey/APProtesters rally at the Tennessee state capitol to speak out against the state's handling of the COVID-19 outbreak Sunday, April 19, 2020, in Nashville, Tenn.
Elaine Thompson/APDemonstrators disregard social distancing guidelines as they crowd together at a protest opposing Washington state's stay-home order to slow the coronavirus outbreak Sunday, April 19, 2020, in Olympia, Wash. Washington Gov. Jay Inslee has blasted President Donald Trump's calls to "liberate" parts of the country from stay-at-home and other orders that are designed to combat the spread of the coronavirus. Inslee says that Trump is fomenting a potentially deadly "insubordination" among his followers before the pandemic is contained.
Elaine Thompson/APInitiative promoter and gubernatorial candidate Tim Eyman disregards social distancing guidelines as he greets supporters in a crowd at a protest opposing Washington state's stay-home order to slow the coronavirus outbreak Sunday, April 19, 2020, in Olympia, Wash.
Elaine Thompson/APDemonstrators crowd together at a protest opposing Washington state's stay-home order to slow the coronavirus outbreak Sunday, April 19, 2020, in Olympia, Wash.
Elaine Thompson/APA man holds a sign in view of the Capitol building at a protest opposing Washington state's stay-home order to slow the coronavirus outbreak Sunday, April 19, 2020, in Olympia, Wash.
Elaine Thompson/APJustin Bailey, of Tacoma, Wash., holds an assault rifle and a flag as he stands at a protest opposing Washington state's stay-home order to slow the coronavirus outbreak Sunday, April 19, 2020, in Olympia, Wash.
Paul Sancya/APSteve Polet holds a sign during a protest at the State Capitol in Lansing, Mich., Wednesday, April 15, 2020. Flag-waving, honking protesters drove past the Michigan Capitol on Wednesday to show their displeasure with Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's orders to keep people at home and businesses locked during the new coronavirus COVID-19 outbreak.
Paul Sancya/APDawn Perreca protests on the front steps of the Michigan State Capitol building in Lansing, Mich., Wednesday, April 15, 2020.
Paul Sancya/APProtesters carry rifles near the steps of the Michigan State Capitol building in Lansing, Mich., Wednesday, April 15, 2020. Flag-waving, honking protesters drove past the Michigan Capitol on Wednesday to show their displeasure with Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's orders to keep people at home and businesses locked during the new coronavirus COVID-19 outbreak.
Filmmaker and Michigan native Michael Moore says he knows the kinds of people who have been bringing guns, Confederate flags and swastika iconography to the Michigan state capital to protest the coronavirus pandemic lockdown, and they’re nothing to worry about.
“I want to appeal to people to not be afraid of these guys with the guns,” the 66-year-old liberal provocateur and Flint native said Friday on HBO’s “Real Time with Bill Maher.” “I went to high school with them. I know them.”
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Moore, who correctly predicted Donald Trump would win the presidential election in 2016, said those protesters talk a big game, but if push comes to shove, they’ll scatter.
“They want to kill Bambi. That’s their idea of a real fight. Them and a deer,” Moore said. “If the deer were ever armed, if it were a fair fight, these guys would never be in the woods.”
Moore noted that President Trump has visited Michigan three times this month and needs to keep his base energized in the northern swing state, which narrowly swung in Trump’s favor in 2016. For more than a month, Trump has encouraged those protesters to defy local leaders and push for their state to reopen.
It’s the “Sicko” director’s hope that voters who oppose Trump get involved in the electoral process in 2020 and support the Democratic nominee, which will likely be Joe Biden.
Maher expressed concerns that Trump will refuse to leave the White House if he’s defeated in November’s election and his armed supporters will come out in force to keep him there. Moore assured the 64-year-old talk show host that will not happen.
“Again, these guys I went to high school with, with their big guns, they know better,” Moore said. “They can see the endgame of this. They’re not going to win.”
According to Moore, those protesters are role playing and not about to give up their comfortable lives for a cause.
“They’re living their white life in their white neighborhoods,” Moore said. “If they end up being arrested … for doing what you suggested, they will then be moved to a black and brown neighborhood called the United States prison system.”
Moore has been critical of the U.S. penal system, particularly with regards to racial inequality. In 2015, shortly before his documentary “Where to Invade Next” was released, the controversial director tweeted that African-Americans in prison for nonviolent offenses should be freed.