Judge Refuses to Enforce Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s Edicts to Shut Down Patriotic Barber
Shane Trejo
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A Michigan Circuit Court Judge in Shiawassee County rejected the complaint filed by the Michigan Attorney General’s Office to shut down barber Karl Manke, who has refused the order from Governor Gretchen Whitmer calling his business “non-essential.”
Attorney General Dana Nessel tried to file a temporary restraining order today against Manke in order to criminalize his barber shop operation in Owosso. He is able to remain in operation for the time being because a judge rejected her request, although the state has charged him with misdemeanor crimes.
“The next step now would depend on if the “(Attorney General) appeals or not,” said attorney David A. Kallman, who is presenting Manke.
“I don’t know if they’re going to, but for our point of view, the next step is two criminal charges pending against him in district court for misdemeanors,” he added.
Manke has received citations for violating Whitmer’s edicts. He could receive 90 days in jail and/or a $500 fine if he is convicted of these supposed crimes.
“I’d gone six weeks without a paycheck with no money coming in. I’ve been in this business 59 years…I’m 77. I’ve always worked,” he said. “I’ve never looked for handouts. I don’t even know what they are. I had somebody call me and say why don’t you get on food stamps. I don’t want to get on food stamps. I want to work.”
Manke is overwhelmed by the incredible amount of support he has received from the community due to his patriotic stand against Whitmer’s tyranny.
“I came into this last Monday alone, thinking I’m going to swing in the wind alone,” he said, calling the government’s order to keep non-essential businesses closed and he doesn’t need to be mothered by lawmakers. “I cannot believe the support that I’ve got. It’s overwhelming.”
Big League Politics has reported on Manke as he has cut hair illegally during the quarantine:
A barbershop owner in Owosso, Mich. is defiantly disobeying the shutdown edicts issued by Governor Gretchen Whitmer and says he will not close his store until the state forces him to do so.
77-year-old Karl Manke opened his barbershop on Monday, flouting Whitmer’s executive order forcing his store and thousands of other businesses across the state to stay closed.
“I don’t need the governor to be my mother,” Manke said. “I have one. God bless her, she’s gone now. I don’t need another mother. I can make these adult decisions myself.”
“I can … run my business how I feel I should run it,” he added. “To tell you the truth, I am scared but I didn’t really have any choice. I need to work through that fear and open up.”
Ryan Jarvi of the Attorney General’s office has made it clear that Manke is operating in violation of Whitmer’s orders and that he may be subject to fines or criminal sanctions because of his unwillingness to submit.
“Violations should still be directed to law enforcement agencies overseeing the jurisdiction in which the offense occurred,” Jarvi said. “We are confident those agencies will use their discretion and authority appropriately in enforcing the Governor’s orders.”
Manke is very aware of the possible consequences but is operating in spite of what may happen to him. The devoted Christian believes that his stand is about something bigger.
“I’ll be open until Jesus walks in or until they arrest me,” Manke said.
Manke’s galvanizing stand is showing other business owners in Michigan and throughout the country that tyranny can be defeated, and Americans do not have to accept the new normal of shutdown tyranny.
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