Posted on 05/14/2020 9:36:54 AM PDT by lightman
West Shore barber Brad Shepler has rapidly become a symbol of the growing revolt against Gov. Tom Wolf’s order closing non-life-essential businesses over the coronavirus.
That was unmistakable Thursday morning, two days after state officials threatened to revoke Shepler’s barbering license and fine him up to $10,000 a day for reopening his East Pennsboro Township shop in violation of the closure edict.
A crowd of several dozen filled the small parking lot of his business, Shep’s Barber Shop, off Wertzville Road to cheer him on. A bevy of Republican legislators, headed by state Sen. Mike Regan, showered Shepler with promises to support him in his fight to keep working and support his family.
Regan even called Wolf’s actions cowardly and incompetent. The governor, he said, is acting like a bully, despite Wolf’s adamant contention that he is acting in the interest of public health.
It was Shepler, however, who gave the most moving address to the crowd. He had to hold back tears while delivering it.
“You need to realize, we’re all losing our rights as American citizens. And we should all be afraid of that,” Shepler said. “I would like to ask all small business owners who want to get back to work, Stand up with me.”
That drew a solid applause from his supporters, few of whom were wearing protective face coverings.
Only a couple of MAGA or Trump 2020 hats were in evidence. American flags were waving. The barber pole at Shep’s shop was spinning and the lighted sign in the window said, “Open.” Signs posted on nearby cars include one stating, “Support Shep! Get a Haircut!”
Regan and his colleagues said the time for Wolf’s closure order has passed and the economic damage it is doing cannot continue. The senator called for federal law enforcement authorities to intervene on behalf of business owners who are threatened for violating the shutdown decree.
“I plan to stand on the stoop of every business in York and Cumberland County who receives one of these obnoxious, threatening letters,” Regan said, holding up the warning sent to Shepler. “The heavy hand of government, right here.”
“This is not the way we treat our citizens,” he added.
Rep. Greg Rothman called the lockdown hypocritical. “Look across the street,” he said. “People come and go from the Unimart all day.”
“We trust the people of Pennsylvania to do the right thing, to be safe,” Rothman said. “We’re better than this.”
“Open up PA now,” one man shouted as Rothman spoke. A woman followed with, “We will not watch our freedoms wither and die.”
Motorists honked their horns as they drove by.
Rep. Dawn Keefer got a cheer when she walked to the podium and declared, “Enough is enough!”
“We need to reopen. We’ve done what needed to be done. Enough is enough. It’s time to open up,” Keefer said. She said she and Rothman are drafting legislation to void any penalties imposed on businesses for violating Wolf’s closure order.
“This is a free America. We don’t arrest people for working here,” Rep. Barb Gleim said. “We have reached a point where we have to focus on health and economic factors at the same time.”
Sen. Doug Mastriano got a roar of approval when he asked, “Where does Gov. Wolf think he has the power to direct the way we live our lives?”
Mastriano is one of the rock stars of the reopen Pennsylvania movement. He has called for the resignation of state Health Secretary Rachel Levine, one of the icons of the state’s fight against the COVID-19 pandemic that to date has infected nearly 59,000 Pennsylvanians and killed around 4,000.
“We’ve got to hang together here,” Mastriano said. “I will not stand aside as Gov. Wolf tramples your rights.”
He asked if the crowd agreed. “Yeah,” it roared back.
“Gov. Wolf, it’s time to get off our backs and let us live our lives,” the senator said.
Thursday’s protest could be seen as a warm-up for what likely will be a much larger ReOpen PA rally scheduled for noon Friday at the Capitol Complex in Harrisburg. A similar rally on April 20 drew more than 1,000 protesters. The organizer said he is hoping 10,000 to 15,000 people attend Friday’s protest.
Like I said before. I had to go to a speakeasy on staten island to get a haircut.
Person did a good job and the price was the usual.
Drinks and massages were extra :)
Pennsylvania Ping!
Please ping me with articles of interest.
FReepmail me to be added to the list.
A cuteasy.
You are a solid American.
Can the guy do 1@a time by appomtment out of his house for donations vs fee ?
lol
I got my haircut on the black market. I’m sure some Karen in the neighborhood has noted my unusually short hair and has me under close surveillance now looking for a chance to call the authorities on me.
Wife has been cutting my hair for years.
Good for the protesters, thank you!
More than half of those 4,000 deaths were seeded by Levine's order for nursing homes and assisted living centers to accept COVID-19 patients no questions asked.
Of course, it spirited its mother out before the order was given. Some people (and their families) are just more equal than others, don't you know?
As of noon today:
2896 nursing home deaths
4218 total deaths
67 percent.
Lancaster County 159/183 or 87 per cent
MURDERER!
And the literal man beast health commissioner who took her elderly mom out of the nursing home before she put in infected virus patients that killed your mothers fathers grandmothers and grandfathers. Gonna sit back and take this PA. I hope that now that we have several rat states that have committed premeditated murder we can get a federal investigation going
Wolf doesn't seem the least bit worried about handing PA's electoral votes to Trump in November. He is almost certain we are going to mail in ballots and his team will get to decide which ones arrive, which ones get counted and which ones get manufactured as needed.
Have you heard any politicians or economists warning about the forthcoming "Social Security crisis" since the start of the year?
Could it be that the CCP Flu has provided their Final Solution?
And the lockdowns and mask orders are just window dressing to create a veneer of "concern" for the most vulnerable expendable?
Have you heard any politicians or economists warning about the forthcoming "Social Security crisis" since the start of the year?
Could it be that the CCP Flu has provided their Final Solution?
And the lockdowns and mask orders are just window dressing to create a veneer of "concern" for the most vulnerable expendable?
A nursing home resident consumes far fewer government tax dollars (for which most paid years of taxes) than a jailbird in a penitentiary (for which few contributed taxes).
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