Michigan strikes back by suspending elderly barber's license

DETROIT — State regulators on Wednesday suspended the license of a 77-year-old Michigan barber who insisted on cutting hair despite an order to stay closed during the coronavirus pandemic.

Karl Manke has pledged to keep his shop open “until Jesus comes.” A judge declined the state’s request to shut down his shop Monday without first holding a hearing. Regulators took a different path by suspending his barber license and his shop license.

“It’s pure retribution. It’s abuse of power: How dare you stand up to me?” said Manke’s attorney, Dave Kallman.

The Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs declined to comment. Manke can ask for an immediate hearing with an administrative law judge.

Owosso barber Karl Manke’s professional license as well as the license for his barbershop were summarily suspended and an administrative licensing complaint was issued, AG Nessel announced today in coordination with the @michiganLARA. ➡️https://t.co/vTZpCv2kTU pic.twitter.com/Glv3Xt2ZLZ

— Michigan Attorney General (@MIAttyGen) May 13, 2020

His shop is in Owosso, a small town 40 miles northeast of Lansing. A woman who answered the phone at his shop said Manke hadn’t been served with the suspension and was still cutting hair. A clipper could be heard buzzing in the background.

Hair salons and barber shops have been closed for weeks by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer in an effort to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. But Manke, wearing a mask, reopened on May 4, saying an extension of the governor’s order had “knocked me to my knees.”

He said he needs to work and can keep his shop and customers safe.

“The government is not my mother, never has been,” Manke said Monday. “I’ve been in business longer than they’ve been alive.”