Dallas Salon owner Shelley Luther was in the news recently when she opened her salon in defiance of the lockdown in the state of Texas (se...
Dallas Salon owner Shelley Luther was in the news recently when she opened her salon in defiance of the lockdown in the state of Texas (see below). She was eventually sentenced to 7 days in jail and fined $7k by an overzealous judge. The Texas Supreme Court and Texas Governor Greg Abbott were able to secure her release (see below).
Salon A La Mode owner Luther was recently on Fox Business with Elizabeth McDonald where she delivered a message for Democrat Maxine Waters:
Elizabeth McDonald asked Shelley Luther:
“You know, Democrat Maxine Waters even has something to say about all of this. Congresswoman Maxine Waters said, quote, ‘protesters should be ashamed when they’re out there trying to get the economy reopened.’ …and she said this actual quote, quote, ‘we don’t want businesses opened back up. Protests that have been organized, the protesters are trying to intimidate governors to open up.’ When you hear elected officials talking like that, she is saying that people participating in trying to reopen should be ashamed of themselves. When you hear that, what is your reaction?”
Luther replied: “She should be ashamed of herself because she is still getting a paycheck, telling other people not to work.”
McDonald replied: “So would you say to her, if you were sitting down with Maxine Waters across the table and she said that to you, you would say, ‘you should be ashamed of yourself, Maxine Waters,’ is that it?”
Luther replied: “Absolutely. I mean, how can you shame people when you don’t let them work? You’re not giving them any government assistance, what are we supposed to do?”
OUR PREVIOUS REPORT ON SHELLEY LUTHER:
Salon A La Mode owner Shelley Luther was just released from jail today. The Texas Supreme Court and Texas Governor Greg Abbott both called for her release today (see below).
When Luther left jail she was greeted by supporters who yelled “Shelley’s Free!”
She thanked all of the new friends she’s made during this difficult time. While holding back tears, she said she would have more to say once she’s gathered her thoughts.
OUR PREVIOUS REPORT ON SALON OWNER SHELLEY LUTHER:
Texas Governor Greg Abbott just changed the coronavirus order to free Salon A La Mode owner Shelley Luther from jail.
Abbott tweeted out a comment about the poor treatment of the business owner:
Throwing Texans in jail whose biz’s shut down through no fault of their own is wrong.
I am eliminating jail for violating an order, retroactive to April 2, superseding local orders.
Criminals shouldn’t be released to prevent COVID-19 just to put business owners in their place.
Throwing Texans in jail whose biz's shut down through no fault of their own is wrong.
I am eliminating jail for violating an order, retroactive to April 2, superseding local orders.
Criminals shouldn’t be released to prevent COVID-19 just to put business owners in their place.
38.7K people are talking about this
Governor Abbott released a statement:
Last night, both the Texas attorney general and the lieutenant governor reached out to help Shelley Arthur:
Salon A La Mode owner Shelley Luther opened her salon in defiance of the lockdown order for salons to stay closed during the coronavirus crisis. She boldly ripped. up the citation she was given by the police and refused to shut her doors.
Luther hired a lawyer and went to court where an activist judge threw the book at her with a penalty of 7 days in jail and a $7,000 fine. Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick just announced that he will pay Shelley Luther’s fine. The Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has also demanded the immediate release of Shelley Luther. Paxton released a statement calling the judge’s decision against Luther a “political stunt”:
“I find it outrageous and out of touch that during this national pandemic, a judge, in a county that actually released hardened criminals for fear of contracting COVID-19, would jail a mother for operating her hair salon in an attempt to put food on her family’s table,” said Attorney General Paxton. “The trial judge did not need to lock up Shelley Luther. His order is a shameful abuse of judicial discretion, which seems like another political stunt in Dallas. He should release Ms. Luther immediately.”
OUR PREVIOUS REPORT ON SHELLEY LUTHER:
The Salon Á La Mode in North Dallas, Texas, opened up in defiance of lockdown orders in the city. The defiant owner says that she’ll ignore a citation and a cease and desist order from the city to shut down. This one act of defiance created a big protest one day later where salon owner Shelley Luther publicly ripped up the citation before a crowd of about 100 people (see video below).
Emergency orders that “non-essential businesses” remain closed during the Covid-19 crisis have devastated small business owners like salon owner Shelley Luther. She stood up for her right to open and then said she wouldn’t pay the fine she got from Dallas police officers.
It didn’t take long for the police officers to arrive minutes after Shelley Luthor opened the doors at the Salon A La Mode.
Luther said: “I’m not doing anything criminal, so they cannot arrest me.”
The officers left the first time without taking action. The salon opened and welcomed customers despite orders from
the county and state for non-essential businesses to remain closed.
the county and state for non-essential businesses to remain closed.
There were a handful of people outside the salon supporting the owner’s decision, which she says was made despite the risk of a stiff fine.
Luther spoke out about her rights:
“I want them to know we have rights, but if you cannot afford to pay us and feed our families and help us because the systems are so backlogged, then you have to let us work.”
There is a GoFundMe page set up to raise money for Shelley Luther.
You can donate here.
Other salon owners who remain closed and are losing money say it’s not fair if those who defy the order are not punished:
Stephanie Randle operates a salon in North Dallas and normally sees seven clients a day. For more than a month, she says she’s had no income while adhering to Covid-19 regulations that have kept hairstylists like her from working.
Now, this afternoon authorities paid another visit to Salon A La Mode. This time with the citation that comes with a fine of up to $1,000. The owner says she plans to fight it and continue operating.
Luther defiantly said: “I’m not paying this.”
Later, she received a cease-and-desist order to close, which she says she will also ignore.
One day later, Luther stood before about 100 supporters and protesters to rip up the citation she was issued by Dallas Police Officers.
Did she do the right thing? Should small businesses defy the shutdown orders? We’d like to know what you think.
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