Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer is waging an increasingly high-profile battle against an elderly barber, and he appears to be winning in both the courts of law and public opinion.
Karl Manke, a 77-year-old from Owosso, reopened his shop after he was turned down for unemployment.
Amid the legal threats from Whitmer’s administration, he recently responded, “What, are they going to give me? Life? I’ve got one foot in the grave and the other on a banana peel. I could care less.”
“As long as I have two hands and I’m capable of cutting hair, that’s my occupation,” Manke said. “That’s what I do. That’s what I’m going to continue to do.”
Chaos erupts as House passes $1.15T defense bill with Israel provision: ‘Stop stoking Jew hatred’
AOC surges past Buttigieg, leaves Harris in the dust in key 2028 battleground poll
Mamdani Gets a Reality Check from His Lawyers After Vow to Arrest Netanyahu
Court records detail Tate brothers’ alleged rape of three women
Horrific: Elderly Woman Stabbed to Death in Random Daylight Knife Attack at California Mall
Ex-Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro and wife scheduled for June 2027 drug trafficking trial
France marks 5,700 excess deaths during June heat wave
Muslims Kill 9 Members of Prominent Pastor’s Family in Targeted Attack
Mamdani dodges on ‘political theater’ of empty Netanyahu arrest threat, calls for US action and NYC protests
WATCH: Tlaib tells Mamdani to ‘call me’ for help arresting Netanyahu as Democrats remain divided
Nigeria Unveils First Memorial for Persecuted Christians
Reporter’s Notebook: House’s final sprint puts SAVE America Act and Iran funding in play
‘Is Mickey Mouse Racist?’: GOP’s Brandon Gill Corners Smithsonian Director on Leftist Policies
New Jersey Dem gov’s blame game backfires after tech company pins noncitizen voter registration on state
US soldier believed to be killed in Jordan attack remembered as living ‘life of courage and selflessness’
Manke addressed supporters outside his shop on Monday.
“I’d gone six weeks without a paycheck with no money coming in. I’ve been in this business 59 years…I’m 77. I’ve always worked,” he said.
“I’ve never looked for handouts. I don’t even know what they are. I had somebody call me and say why don’t you get on food stamps. I don’t want to get on food stamps. I want to work.”
“I came into this last Monday alone, thinking I’m going to swing in the wind alone,” he said. “I cannot believe the support that I’ve got,” he added to cheers, with some responding, “You are not alone!”
“It’s overwhelming,” he added, getting choked up.
Another day, Manke made it clear he was going to defy Whitmer’s orders.
Chaos erupts as House passes $1.15T defense bill with Israel provision: ‘Stop stoking Jew hatred’
AOC surges past Buttigieg, leaves Harris in the dust in key 2028 battleground poll
Mamdani Gets a Reality Check from His Lawyers After Vow to Arrest Netanyahu
Court records detail Tate brothers’ alleged rape of three women
Horrific: Elderly Woman Stabbed to Death in Random Daylight Knife Attack at California Mall
Ex-Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro and wife scheduled for June 2027 drug trafficking trial
France marks 5,700 excess deaths during June heat wave
Muslims Kill 9 Members of Prominent Pastor’s Family in Targeted Attack
Mamdani dodges on ‘political theater’ of empty Netanyahu arrest threat, calls for US action and NYC protests
WATCH: Tlaib tells Mamdani to ‘call me’ for help arresting Netanyahu as Democrats remain divided
Nigeria Unveils First Memorial for Persecuted Christians
Reporter’s Notebook: House’s final sprint puts SAVE America Act and Iran funding in play
‘Is Mickey Mouse Racist?’: GOP’s Brandon Gill Corners Smithsonian Director on Leftist Policies
New Jersey Dem gov’s blame game backfires after tech company pins noncitizen voter registration on state
US soldier believed to be killed in Jordan attack remembered as living ‘life of courage and selflessness’
He told radio host Steve Gruber he will only leave his shop “if they drag me out in the street or Jesus comes.”
Manke’s levity is a striking contrast to Whitmer’s attempts to appear tough.
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer: "These executive orders are not a suggestion. They're not optional. They're not helpful hints." pic.twitter.com/ImffRfwPyb
— The Hill (@thehill) May 11, 2020
When asked specifically about Manke defying her edicts, Whitmer responded, “I expect people to follow the law. These executive orders are not a suggestion. They’re not optional. They’re not helpful hints.”
Despite failing to obtain a restraining order against the barber on Monday, Whitmer’s administration is continuing to pursue him in court.
The AG said:
The Attorney General’s court action, filed on behalf of MDHHS, seeks to enforce the MDHHS Director’s Public Health Order that deemed Mr. Manke’s business an imminent danger to public health in light of the COVID 19 pandemic and directs him to immediately cease operations at his barbershop. The State is seeking to schedule a hearing as soon as possible.
Chaos erupts as House passes $1.15T defense bill with Israel provision: ‘Stop stoking Jew hatred’
AOC surges past Buttigieg, leaves Harris in the dust in key 2028 battleground poll
Mamdani Gets a Reality Check from His Lawyers After Vow to Arrest Netanyahu
Court records detail Tate brothers’ alleged rape of three women
Horrific: Elderly Woman Stabbed to Death in Random Daylight Knife Attack at California Mall
Ex-Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro and wife scheduled for June 2027 drug trafficking trial
France marks 5,700 excess deaths during June heat wave
Muslims Kill 9 Members of Prominent Pastor’s Family in Targeted Attack
Mamdani dodges on ‘political theater’ of empty Netanyahu arrest threat, calls for US action and NYC protests
WATCH: Tlaib tells Mamdani to ‘call me’ for help arresting Netanyahu as Democrats remain divided
Nigeria Unveils First Memorial for Persecuted Christians
Reporter’s Notebook: House’s final sprint puts SAVE America Act and Iran funding in play
‘Is Mickey Mouse Racist?’: GOP’s Brandon Gill Corners Smithsonian Director on Leftist Policies
New Jersey Dem gov’s blame game backfires after tech company pins noncitizen voter registration on state
US soldier believed to be killed in Jordan attack remembered as living ‘life of courage and selflessness’
The AG asserted Manke’s open business presents “clear public health dangers.”
After the close of business on Tuesday, Whitmer’s administration stripped Manke of his operating license, his attorney said.
“Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs has suspended Karl’s license,” attorney David Kallman told radio host Steve Gruber.
“Not thinking about it, they’ve actually done it without a hearing, without any due process,” he added, saying the action took place some time after 5:00 p.m.
“It’s an unbelievable abuse of power,” Kallman said, arguing there’s no legal basis for the action.
“This is pure retribution by the governor’s office and by the AG. This is so petty and vindictive, it’s beyond the pale,” he told Gruber.
According Kallman, the AG claimed one of the reasons for the license suspension was because Manke was violating the temporary restraining order–which was never granted.
Story cited here.
