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 Whitmerâs stay-at-home order was enforced. Manke is said to have worked 14 hours and he plans to continue doing so despite the governorâs orders.
âI donât need the governor to be my mother,â he said. âI have one. God bless her, sheâs gone now. I donât need another mother. I can make these adult decisions myself.â
See Mankeâs 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.
âIâll be open until Jesus walks in or until they arrest me.â
Manke admitted that initially, he adhered to the governorâs 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, âI canât go that long without an income, I just canât do it.â
Despite Mankeâs refusal to shutter his doors, Ryan Jarvi with the Michigan Attorney Generalâs office argues that there are no grounds for the barbershop to be open under Whitmerâs current executive order.
âViolations should still be directed to law enforcement agencies overseeing the jurisdiction in which the offense occurred,â Jarvi said. âWe are confident those agencies will use their discretion and authority appropriately in enforcing the Governorâs orders.â
On Wednesday, Owosso Police Department officials confirmed that they were alerted of Mankeâs reopening. A report has been submitted to the Shiawassee County Prosecutorâs Office.
Manke has admitted that he is fearful he may get arrested, fined or lose his license. However, heâs willing to âcharge throughâ those fears.
According to Michigan law, Manke could be subject to a â90-day misdemeanor and/or a $500 fineâ for violating Whitmerâs order.
