Owosso barber continues fight to reopen with support from Dallas salon owner

OWOSSO, MI – Standing under a rain-soaked canopy Monday afternoon outside his barber shop in Owosso, Karl Manke vowed to reopen Tuesday.

The 77-year-old barber who defied Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s executive order shuttering barber shops and salons has drawn national attention over governmental power to enforce restrictions amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

He was joined May 18 by others who’ve reopened their businesses including Dallas salon owner Shelley Luther who’d been jailed in the Lone Star State after opening in spite of orders there to remain closed.

She traveled up to Michigan to show support for Manke.

Dallas salon owner who was jailed to meet Owosso barber at his shop

Luther told the crowd of reporters and supporters assembled that her employees told her they were going to people’s houses to style hair to help their families.

She argued by opening the shop they’d be able to require social distancing, make people wear masks and maintain sanitary conditions.

“These people you’re bumping into at Walmart and are all over the place (are) nowhere near as clean at a salon would be,” Luther said. “Salons should be the first things to open up after hospitals. I believe all stores should be open up. If one (opens), all should, right? There’s no one better than another.”

Manke, who began to cut hair again May 4, called on others in the state to resume their business.

Owosso barber says shop will stay open 'until Jesus walks in or until they arrest me’

“All of you business owners, beauticians, you barbers, massage therapists, all of you open up your shops,” he said, drawing a wave of applause from the crowd. “Stand up and show up.”

The Michigan Conservative Coalition plans to have volunteer barbers offer free haircuts at a May 20 protest outside the state Capitol in Lansing, a move inspired by Manke.

“Operation Haircut is designed to demonstrate the insanity still rampant in Lansing,” said Marian Sheridan, a co-founder of the Michigan Conservative Coalition in a press release. “Michigan needs to be reopened now to end the reign of Michigan’s power hungry bureaucrats."

Barbers giving away free haircuts on Capitol lawn at next week’s protest

The owner of another barbershop in Cadillac has also reopened her doors in recent days as well as a Holland salon owner.

Manke still faces an uphill climb, as the state issued an order of summary suspension on his license. The barber has been closed since Friday after being served in the mail.

David A. Kallman, Manke’s attorney, said he filed an emergency appeal Monday morning in Shiawassee Circuit Court on the suspension.

State agency suspends license of Owosso barber who defied coronavirus order closing non-essential businesses

“We’re asking Judge (Matthew) Stewart to sign a stay of that order that says Karl cannot practice as a barber,” he commented. “We’re waiting right now to hear from the judge as to what he’s going to do with that request.”

Kallman also filed a brief in the Court of Appeals after Stewart’s ruling against a temporary restraining order on the business filed by the Michigan Attorney General’s Office on behalf of the state Department of Health and Human Services

“We’re going to keep fighting,” said Kallman. “I know Karl wants to keep fighting and he needs to do what he needs to do.”

Owosso barber confirms he was ticketed by police for opening shop

Kallman has argued the two points made by LARA for the summary suspension order -- violation of the executive order and criminal charges -- are those which have been created of late by Whitmer. He has called them illegal and unlawful as they come without the backing of state lawmakers who declined to extend the state of emergency beyond April 30.

Whitmer has extended the executive order until May 28. Those who violate the governor’s executive order are subject to a $1,000 civil fine, a $500 criminal fine and up to 90 days in jail.

Manke was previously issued a citation with two misdemeanors for violation of the order. Kallman previously said he’d file motions with the court to dismiss them.

Judge denies attorney general’s demand to shut down Owosso barber shop

Other business owners spoke at the press conference backing Manke including Erik Kiilunen, who put up “All Business is Essential” billboards in the state as well as James Gray, owner of Michigan Institute of Athletics and Scorpion Fighting System in Livingston County’s Genoa Township, near Brighton.

Gray recently reopened his doors to customers.

“These people took the first initiative. They stepped up. They said we deserve these freedoms. We were born with the American spirit,” he said of Luther and Manke. “We’re not trying to put people in danger. We’re trying to do the right thing. We’re trying to provide for our families and we’re trying to encourage other people to do the same.”

Brighton-area gym owner reopens MMA training facility against Whitmer’s shutdown order

Gray also took a few moments to address residents who are afraid.

“We shouldn’t’ be attacking those people and shouldn’t be going after them for being crippled by fear. Fear is a powerful emotion. It shuts down logic. It shuts down reasoning,” he said. “Instead of looking at those people and being angry, because I’m very frustrated and I know many of you are, we need to look at those with compassion and the way that we can help them is get the information to those people. We need to band together.”

Luther questioned why marijuana and liquor sales are still allowed but not people getting a haircut. She also lambasted Whitmer.

“You’re very reactive and not proactive like a governor should be,” she said. “All you can do to fix this is open up. Stop being a tyrant. You don’t get this control. We control you. We have the power. We vote you in. Gretchen, the state of Michigan will vote you out.”

Related:

Barbers giving away free haircuts on Capitol lawn at next week’s protest

‘It’s about the principle of everything,’ says Holland salon owner defying Whitmer’s coronavirus order closures

Another Michigan barbershop reopens, defying governor’s order

If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our User Agreement and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.