A Texas hairdresser was sentenced to seven days in prison for keeping her living room open in violation of rules to limit the spread of the new coronavirus. The Covid-19 has killed more than 72,000 people in the United States.
The boss of the living room “In fashion” was sanctioned Tuesday by a federal court in Dallas which had ordered her on April 28 to comply with the rules of containment made by the city, the county and the state.
“She continued her operations for seven days and until this hearing” and received several clients a day, according to the judgment. She “expressed no remorse or regret,” said the judge, who also fined her $ 1,000 for each of the seven days of the offense. His lawyer immediately announced his intention to appeal.
“Feed your children”
During the hearing, the hairdresser, who had distinguished herself during anti-containment demonstrations, had explained to the judge that she needed to “feed her children”, local media reported. “If you think the law is more important than feeding children, make your decision, but I will not close my living room,” she said.
The Texas Attorney General, a Republican, ruled Wednesday the decision “shameful and out of touch with reality.” He pleaded for the release of this “mother who kept her living room open to put food on the family table”.
The sentence is “excessive,” added Republican Governor Greg Abbott. “During a pandemic, compliance with instructions is important […] but there must be less repressive means to achieve our goal, “he said in a statement.
He also announced the reopening of hair salons, as well as barbers, manicure salons, tanning booths, parks, beaches and swimming pools, from Friday, a week after the lifting of restrictions on bars and restaurants in its state.
