FREE AT LAST: Dallas Salon Owner Shelley Luther Released From Jail After Defying Lockdown Orders
Hair salon owner Shelley Luther was arrested and summoned to court for defying Dallas authorities in opening her business to serve clients and to provide for her hungry kids.
Democrat Obama-appointed Judge Eric V. Moye offered leniency in Luther’s sentencing if she groveled to him by apologizing for her perceived selfishness during the lockdown.
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“Sit down and be quiet. I’m not through speaking. Do not say another word while I’m speaking. And you will not interrupt me again in this court,” Judge Moye told the salon owner.
“That you now see the error of your ways and understand that the society cannot function with one’s own belief in a concept of liberty, permits you to flaunt your disdain for the rulings of duly elected officials and that you represent to this court that you will today cease operation of your salon and not reopen until after further orders of this of the government permit you to do so,” added Judge Moye. “This court will consider the payment of a fine in lieu of the incarceration, which you’ve demonstrated that you have so clearly earned.”
Luther told the Democrat judge that she would keep the salon open to allow her and her stylists to provide for their kids and to pay rent & utilities.
“Judge, I would like to say that I have much respect for this court and laws and that I’ve never been in this position before and it’s not someplace that I want to be. But I have to disagree with you, sir – when you say that I’m selfish. Because feeding my kids is not selfish,” Luther explained to the judge.
“I have hairstylists that are going hungry because they’d rather feed their kids. So, sir, if you think the law is more important than kids getting fed, then please go ahead with your decision, but I’m not going to shut the salon.”
Luther went on Glenn Beck’s radio show to call on business owners to open in an act of civil disobedience because the government doesn’t have the capacity to arrest everyone.
Texas governor Greg Abbott modified the state’s Coronavirus lockdown and effectively freed Shelley Luther. Lt. Governor Dan Patrick slammed Democrat Judge Moye for his lack of judgment.
A GoFundMe page on behalf of Luther has raised over $500,000 to support her family and to pay for legal costs after being freed from jail. Luther spoke to supporters to reassure them that she is OK and will speak more on her experience when her mental health stabilizes.
Greeted by supporters upon release from jail, Luther told the crowd, “Thank you guys so much. I’m a little overwhelmed and I don’t want to scare the kids. I’m okay. I just want to thank all of you who I just barely met. And now you’re all my friends. You mean so much to me and this would have been nothing without you. Thank you so, so much, and I’ll have more to say when I can gather myself, but I’m a little overwhelmed.”
Presidential counselor Kellyanne Conway told interviewers that Luther’s experience illustrates the dire need for the country to safely reopen to heal the economy.
Conway told reporters, “I’ll tell you what we don’t support. We don’t support the random jailing of, for example, the woman who’s now a household name, Shelley Luther, who I think people have raised about a half a million dollars last I checked, I guess for her and for others, because that just strikes people as in all fairness, on top of an injustice and wrapped around inequality. I mean, here’s somebody who has said to the judge. No, I wouldn’t apologize because I need to feed my family. We hear stories like that all across this country. As of today, 33 million Americans have filed for unemployment and it’s devastating. It is economically devastating. It is a health and a financial crisis. And that’s why we’re trying to manage both of those every single day. So Governor Abbott is one of the governors said he has a plan.”
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Steeve Strange is the CEO and Co-Founder of The Scoop. Follow Steeve on Twitter @TheScoopSteeve, on Instagram @TheScoopSteeve, and on Facebook @TheScoopSteeve.
