Businesses Across US Defy Lockdown Measures: We Have No Choice
NEW YORK—A number of restaurants and businesses deemed by officials to be “nonessential” are openly ..
NEW YORK—A number of restaurants and businesses deemed by officials to be “nonessential” are openly defying lockdown measures in states across the nation as they grapple with their livelihoods being stripped away and their finances going down the drain.
While some states are slowly reopening, the rest continue under tight restrictions. Authorities have fined, arrested, or revoked the business licenses of those defying the orders. Some have decried these actions as unconstitutional, even sliding toward tyrannical, while others say its warranted.
Business owners who resisted the unprecedented lockdown rules told The Epoch Times they had no other choice as the economic fallout forced them to use their retirement money.
They grappled with a “new normal” of falling behind on rent, wrestling with the idea of letting employees go, or letting their relatives and those in their community down. Supporters and other businesses that were able to survive without breaking the orders were sympathetic, saying they could understand the pressure they were facing.
Governors have enacted stay-at-home measures and ordered schools and most businesses—aside from those deemed essential—to close in a bid to counter the spread of the CCP virus, also known as the novel coronavirus. Those defying these measures mostly agree the restrictions are effective, but say their lives cant continue unless they start making money.
In recent weeks, businesses across the country have reopened in defiance of their states lockdown orders. In North Carolina, a man who opened his tattoo parlor over concerns he would lose his new home was arrested for violating an executive order. A barber in Nevada received a warning from her licensing board, including a citation and a $1,000 fine for reopening.
A salon owner in Dallas who reopened early was sentenced to a week in jail and ordered to pay $500 for each of the seven days her business was open. Similar cases have also occurred in Florida, Oregon, Colorado, New York, California, and Maine.
However, restaurants that allowed patrons to dine inside their premises and owners of nonessential businesses who reopened their stores have seen a massive outpouring of support from their local communities. On GoFundMe, more than $185,541 was raised for the jailed salon owner.
When talking about the positive feedback they received, some of them became emotional.
Were All In This Together
Paul Zimmerman, owner of the Red Maple Inn, a full-service restaurant and hotel in Guilford, Maine, said the sheriff warned him they would strip his license per the state attorney general if he defied lockdown restrictions.
Zimmerman told The Epoch Times the lockdown put immense financial strain on him as he was forced to spend all of his retirement money to stay afloat. While he initially followed the quarantine restrictions by only offering takeout, he recently started allowing patrons to sit inside to eat.
The inn, which sits on his personal one-acre property, follows state guidelines and has tables 10 feet apart. On May 3, after fully reopening, he was sold out by 4:30 p.m. He normally closes at 7 p.m. He said it was an “awesome feeling” knowing his community was behind him, noting one of his most loyal patrons, an 85-year-old man who had supported him for more than 10 years.
The patrons wife was in a nursing home, and due to restrictions, he hadnt been able to see her for more than eight weeks. Prior to the pandemic, he had been relying on the restaurant for his meals.
“For eight weeks, this gentleman has thanked me every single day. I have let him eat at my house. I have fed him my own personal food to make sure he eats every day,” Zimmerman said.
“That gentleman was here all weekend long,” he said. “Ive lost both my parents, he considers me his son. What am I supposed to tell him? No you cant come to my property? Im not going to do that.”
Zimmerman broke down as he described how his customer sat outside his backyard on April 4, watching his business, as he couldnt let him directly inside his own home.
“If somebody from the state would listen, listen to some of these stories,” he said. “Not this side or that side. I dont care whether youre a Democrat, Republican, independent. I dont care what color skin you are—were all in this together.”
Over the past weekend, state liquor inspectors and state health inspectors checked the inns premises. Zimmerman said he received a health inspection report on May 4 in which they ultimately decided not to take away his license.
As of May 5, there have been 1,226 cases of the CCP virus in Maine and 61 deaths. Under Democrat Gov. Jane Mills, restaurants arent allowed to fully reopen until June.
“Ive worked hard all my life to get where Im at because I havent had a silver spoon handed to me,” Zimmerman said. “Ive had to work for what I have. If my freedoms get taken away, then Im done.”
A resident from Androscoggin County, Maine, who took part in multiple anti-lockdown protests recently, argued his state never should have shut down due to the low number of virus cases its had.
“Im going to find a restaurant open and give them some patronage,” 50-year-old John Beaulieu told The Epoch Times. “I think we need to rebel against this.”
I Went Home and I Cried
Roughly 450 miles from Maine, Eliot Rabin, owner of Peter Elliot Blue—a mens clothing store in Manhattan—expressed much the same sentiment.
Rabin told The Epoch Times he initially followed New Yorks quarantine orders but started to open his doors again, citing the grim financial situation he was in. He was behind on rent, behind on vendors, and “we had to open, otherwise we would go bye-bye.”
While state authorities hadnt contacted him, Rabin said the NYPD visited him on multiple occasions. The first time they warned him to take down his “Open” signs. In a later visit, they stopped customers from buying from and entering the store.
“You cannot give me an illegal order,” he said. “Youre going against my constitutional rights, my freedom of speech, my freedom of press, my freedom of access. If people want to shop, Im going to let them shop.”
If the state issues him a fine, Rabin said he isnt going to pay. If they arrest him, he said he will take his case to the Supreme Court, adding that lawyers have approached him saying they would go pro bono.
