It’s hard not to feel for the small business folks whose lives and ability to feed their families have been upended by the shutdown orders because of the pandemic.

Texas began opening up some businesses late last week, but not salons.

Shelley Luther reopened up her business Salon a la Mode on April 24 and refused to close it despite getting hit with a cease and desist order from the country and a temporary restraining order against her. She went so far as to tear up the cease and desist order.

Dallas Police and local prosecutors have once again approached the Salon A La Mode to serve a temporary restraining order to close which owner Shelley Luther told them she will not comply with. The owner says she expects to be arrested soon. pic.twitter.com/YafP0fkrqz

— J.D. Miles (@jdmiles11) April 29, 2020

Luther said she had to provide for her family as well as the families of the 19 stylists in her employ.

What has set many on edge was that a judge not only then fined her $7000 for her actions, but sentenced her to a week in jail.

Judge Eric Moye said he would consider not putting her in jail if she apologized for disrespecting the politicians who imposed the orders on her and other citizens.

Judge Eric Moyé asked Luther if she would make a statement admitting she was wrong and selfish. Listen here… pic.twitter.com/6JMukC3v76

— Andrea Lucia (@CBS11Andrea) May 5, 2020

From Star-Telegram:

During the court hearing, Moyé informed Luther that he would consider not giving her jail time if she had admitted she was in the wrong when reopening her salon, that she was selfish for doing so, and that she should apologize to the elected officials whose orders she deliberately violated.

Luther refused.

“I have much respect for this court and laws,” Luther respond via phone to the judge. “I have 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. I have hair stylists 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.”

North Dallas Salon Owner Owner Shelley Luther just sentenced to 7 days in jail by a judge for opening her business according to ⁦@CBS11Andrea⁩ Lucia The salon owner was served with a temporary restraining order to close last week which she vowed to ignore pic.twitter.com/akiZrUKCZz

— J.D. Miles (@jdmiles11) May 5, 2020

This was after pet grooming places and liquor stores were allowed to be open, but she was not.

But her fight may have helped pave the way for other salons. The governor announced yesterday that salons would be able to open on Friday as long as they limited one customer per stylist and observed six feet distancing between stations.

Many viewed Luther as a hero and have come to her rescue through a Go Fund Me to help her with legal fees and the shop.

Please contribute to the “godundme” of Shelly Luther – the hair stylist in Dallas who told the powers that be of local/state government to pound sand & received 7 days in jail (no bail) & $7k fine… has attys fees mounting… @LetAmericaOpen #OpenTexas https://t.co/2z9wxoZ7J6

— Chip Roy (@chiproytx) May 5, 2020

Meanwhile, had she stolen something under $750 “out of necessity,” she likely wouldn’t even have been charged by the local Dallas district attorney, who has refused to prosecute such cases.