Michigan State Police served notice on 77-year-old barber, Karl Manke, after he refused to close his Owosso barbershop in effect defying Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s close down order. The papers ordering the shop’s closure came Friday, but Manke said he has no plans to close.
Karl Manke’s Barber & Beauty on Main Street reopened Monday in defiance of the governor’s executive orders. The Governor issued an order closing all nonessential businesses to limit the spread of the coronavirus in late March.
Since opening last Monday, Manke has had customers from all over Michigan including Ann Arbor, Detroit, Ithaca, Jackson, Kalamazoo, Romulus, and Saginaw who have come for a haircut despite the potential danger. He’s even had some call from as far away as New York asking how to get to his shop. Manke said “a haircut is essential for a man.”
Video courtesy of Detroit Free Press
Attorney General Dana Nessel’s office said that on Friday, Michigan Department of Health and Human Services Director, Robert Gordon ordered Manke to shut down his shop after deeming its operation an “imminent danger” to public health. Ryan Jarvi, spokesman for Attorney General Dana Nessel, said a barbershop is “one of the highest risks for spreading the virus.”
The Governor’s spokesman further said, “Mr. Manke’s actions are not a display of harmless civil disobedience.” He continued, “His actions are counterproductive to the collective effort businesses and communities everywhere have made to slow the spread of COVID-19, and, by opening the doors to his business, he’s putting the lives of many more Michiganders at risk.”
Jarvi kept his promise to have the State Attorney General request an order from the Shiawassee County 
Circuit Court on Monday to close his business.
Members of Michigan’s state militia said they have other ideas and will stand at the door of Manke’s Owosso barbershop to protect the owner from being arrested.
Daniel Brewer, a member of the militia, said “We are here to make sure he doesn’t get arrested.” Brewer continued “We’re willing to stand in front of that door and block the entrance so the police will have no entry there today.”
At 77 years old, Karl Manke said he has “lived under 14 presidents, and this is the worst depression I’ve lived under, and I’m not going to live under it.” He opened his shop last week despite Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s order.
“I don’t need the Governor to be my mother.” He continued, “I have one, God bless her, she’s gone now. I don’t need another mother. I can make these adult decisions myself.”
“I’m not trying to be a scofflaw. I’m trying to make a living. I tried for unemployment, I was denied twice on unemployment.”
Manke said “It’s my right to work to make my living, and that’s what I’m going to do.” Last week, Manke had not received any unemployment or stimulus payments and needed to pay bills. So, he reopened his barbershop and started doing what he has done since 1961, only now he’s wearing a mask while he works, washing his hands between cuts and using an ultraviolet sanitizer on his tools.
The barber remarked that it is discriminatory for the state to allow manufacturers and big box stores to operate with proper safety protocol, but not his barber shop. Manke has been cited twice for civil disobedience and, after his shop was packed with customers over the weekend, he said he has no plans to close.
Karl Manke ticketed last week for opening his barbershop to pay his bills in defiance of Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s order to stay home and close “non-essential businesses”. Manke said “I don’t need the Governor to be my mother.”
Manke said he turned court papers over to his attorneys and is still working. The Michigan barber has been working 14-15 hours a day — 75 hours last week. He left his shop at 1:00am Saturday morning after having worked since 9:30 Friday morning. He said there were lines of people with 15 out the front door waiting for cuts Saturday morning. He said he doesn’t plan on closing.
“I’ll be here until Jesus comes,” he said.
Last Wednesday Owosso police wearing masks cited him for a civil infraction and two misdemeanors, said Lt. Eric Cherry. A court date is set for June 23. He faces a $1,000 fine or more.
A gofundme account has been set up for Manke to help him raise money for fines and court costs in his stand for common sense and liberty.
Michael Reed is Editor of The Standard.
This story was updated 5-12-20 at 10:47am.
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