An Owosso, Michigan barber is making it clear the doors of his business will remain open despite Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D) extending stay-at-home orders.
According to MLive, Karl Manke has cut hair for the last 60 years and he has no intent on stopping now. On Monday, the 77-year-old barber reopened his shop and ended up working from 10am to around midnight.
When he opened on Tuesday, he was met with a line of customers ranging from ages 19 to 90 hoping to get their first haircuts since Whitmer’s stay-at-home order was enforced. Manke is said to have worked 14 hours and he plans to continue doing so despite the governor’s orders.
“I don’t need the governor to be my mother,” he said. “I have one. God bless her, she’s gone now. I don’t need another mother. I can make these adult decisions myself.”
See Manke’s interview below:
During his interview with the publication, he also noted that there are only two ways he would be forced to close his doors.
“I’ll be open until Jesus walks in or until they arrest me.”
Manke admitted that initially, he adhered to the governor’s order and closed his shop on March 21. But as time progressed and the order was extended, it became more difficult to sustain, financially.
He went on to express concerns about the loss of income for the extended period of time saying, “I can’t go that long without an income, I just can’t do it.”
Despite Manke’s refusal to shutter his doors, Ryan Jarvi with the Michigan Attorney General’s office argues that there are no grounds for the barbershop to be open under Whitmer’s current executive order.
“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.”
On Wednesday, Owosso Police Department officials confirmed that they were alerted of Manke’s reopening. A report has been submitted to the Shiawassee County Prosecutor’s Office.
Manke has admitted that he is fearful he may get arrested, fined or lose his license. However, he’s willing to “charge through” those fears.
According to Michigan law, Manke could be subject to a “90-day misdemeanor and/or a $500 fine” for violating Whitmer’s order.