I have a feeling this is going to get ugly this afternoon.

Protesters, police clash at Capitol

LANSING — Witnesses say Michigan State Police have deployed chemical agents on the east side of the Capitol after a crowd attempted to move toward the Capitol.

Just after noon a line of Michigan State Police troopers in face shields began assisting Clinton County Sheriff’s Department Mounted Division staff on horses to prevent the crowd from moving toward the Capitol, which is at its capacity of 2,200.

The crowd was chanting “A union united will never be divided.”

Witnesses said after the officers on horses attempted to push the crowd back, and at least one person was knocked down and some sort of pepper spray was dispersed into the crowd. A State Journal reporter did not witness the chemical agent being dispersed but was affected by it.

The crowd was continuing to grow.