A Texas woman has been issued hit with multiple temporary restraining orders for keeping her hair salon open in defiance of city, county a...
A Texas woman has been issued hit with multiple temporary restraining orders for keeping her hair salon open in defiance of city, county and state orders.
Shelley Luther has opened the doors of her Dallas business Salon a La Mode, since Friday, even though Gov. Greg Abbott's Open Texas plan hasn't allowed salons to open yet.
On Friday she was hit with a cease and desist letter to close her shop, followed by a $1,000 citation. Police served her temporary restraining orders on Tuesday and yet again on Wednesday, to no avail.
On Wednesday, police were seen at the salon demanding Luther shutter her salon according to the restraining order issued by district court judge Eric Moyé, which mandates she close until March 12.
But Shelley is continuing to defy the legal action and is daring officials to arrest her.
'I'm still here, I'm standing for your rights and Salon A La Mode is open for business,' she said in a Facebook Live on Wednesday.
Texas woman Shelley Luther is defying lockdown orders by opening her Dallas hair salon called Salon A La Mode, even though Texas Gov. Greg Abbott hasn't allowed salons to open yet. Pictured above Friday in front of her salon
'I'm still here, I'm standing for your rights and Salon A La Mode is open for business,' she said in a Facebook Live on Wednesday
Luther's supporters pictured outside her business on Wednesday
In the Facebook clip she wears a mask and speaks with her supporters with the Open Texas anti-lockdown movement who gathered outside her business.
'Apparently there's a very good chance that I'm getting arrested today and I will do everything I can to keep the shop open because I'm not closing the store. If they arrest me I have someone that will keep the store open because it's our right to keep the store open. It's our right for those women to earn income for their families,' she said to the crowd outside her salon Wednesday, according to CBS.
Texas is currently reopening in incremental phases.
Gov. Greg Abbott announced Monday the first phase of plans to reopen businesses across Texas where restaurants, retail shops, malls and movie theaters can open at 25 percent capacity starting Friday, but salons and barbershops must remain closed.
On Friday, April 24 Luther made headlines when she said she would open her salon even if it violated state lockdown rules designed to curb the spread of COVID-19.
She was hit with an $1,000 citation and Judge Clay Jenkins sent a cease and desist letter on Friday - but Luther said she still intended to be open.
Salon owner Luther holds a citation and speaks to media after she was cited by City of Dallas officials for reopening her Salon A la Mode in Dallas on Friday
City of Dallas officials pictured issuing a citation to Luther for reopening Salon A La Mode in Texas on Friday as hair salons have not been cleared to reopen in Texas
Luther says that her business needs to be open because her hairstylists need to work to provide for their families. She argues that her salon is a safe and clean environment that doesn't pose a threat in spreading COVID-19. A customer is pictured getting her nails done in the salon
A man carrying a rifle and Texas flag stands with salon owner Shelley Luther, left, and others in front of her salon on Friday
An exterior view of Luther's business Salon A La Mode pictured above
Luther says Judge Jenkins is abusing his power and she's rallying for all businesses to be opened.
'All I know is he's abusing his power… he's got to be stopped somehow,' Luther said.
Over the weekend at an Open Texas rally to reopen businesses in Frisco, Texas she ripped her cease and desist letter that was issued Friday into pieces before a cheering crowd.
Luther says that her business needs to be open because her hairstylists need to work to provide for their families. She argues that her salon is a safe and clean environment that doesn't pose a threat in spreading COVID-19.
'I can't afford to not stay open, and my stylists can't afford to stop working anymore,' Luther said to ABC13 over the weekend. 'We're about to lose everything and haven't gotten any help, so I had to make a decision.'
Luther pictured speaking at an Open Texas rally in Frisco, Texas on Sunday where she ripped up the citation the state issued her for opening her salon
Luther is one of many Texans who are rallying for the state to completely lift all closures and lockdown measures to reopen the economy. Pictured Sunday speaking at Open Texas rally in Frisco
On Tuesday she shared a Facebook Live saying: 'If I have to … go to jail to prove a point that what they're doing is totally unconstitutional, then that's what happens. I'm not scared.'
Officials for the City of Dallas say that if the salon doesn't shut down immediately local residents 'will suffer irreparable injury'.
The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation says it has received multiple complaints against Salon A La Mode.
'We actually have received more than 50 complaints, but we've opened 10 cases,' TDLR spokeswoman Tela Mange said to WFAA on the Dallas salon.
A hearing on the restraining order is scheduled at 1pm on May 11.
There have been widespread protests to lockdown measures in Texas, with hundreds calling on Gov. Abbott to full open the state despite his incremental opening plan.
In Texas there are more than 26,900 cases of COVID-19 and 743 deaths.