Get the latest BPR news delivered free to your inbox daily. SIGN UP HERE.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott is making it clear he will “not allow” people in his state to be thrown in jail for violations of coronavirus orders.
The Republican lawmaker modified his own COVID-19 executive orders on Thursday and effectively put judges in their place who have fined and jailed Texans for violations, including most recently Dallas salon owner Shelley Luther.
Throwing Texans in jail whose biz’s shut down through no fault of their own is wrong.
I am eliminating jail for violating an order, retroactive to April 2, superseding local orders.
Criminals shouldn’t be released to prevent COVID-19 just to put business owners in their place.
— Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) May 7, 2020
“Throwing Texans in jail who have had their businesses shut down through no fault of their own is nonsensical, and I will not allow it to happen,” Abbott said in a press release from his office.
“That is why I am modifying my executive orders to ensure confinement is not a punishment for violating an order,” he added, noting that the order is “retroactive to April 2nd, supersedes local orders and if correctly applied should free Shelley Luther.”
Luther was serving a seven-day jail sentence for violating Texas stay-at-home orders, opening her salon for business because she needed to be able to provide for her family. She gained support and attention for tearing up the cease-and-desist letter that ordered her to shut the doors of her salon and would not take up District Judge Eric Moyé’s offer to avoid jail time by apologizing.
Judge says apologize for being ‘selfish’ or go to jail: Backlash builds as Dallas salon owner is sentenced https://t.co/1V3vcsURDX pic.twitter.com/HqCZVGcawX
— Conservative News (@BIZPACReview) May 6, 2020
Luther told the judge that “feeding my kids is not selfish. If you think the law is more important than kids getting fed, then please go ahead with your decision, but I am not going to shut the salon.”
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton slammed the judge for “abusing his authority” and called for the “immediate release” of Luther.
See the statements from @TXAG and me on the jailing of Dallas Salon Owner Shelley Luther. pic.twitter.com/wyOOllGXgj
— Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) May 6, 2020
Abbott noted that his order modification “may also ensure that other Texans like Ana Isabel Castro-Garcia and Brenda Stephanie Mata who were arrested in Laredo, should not be subject to confinement,” referring to the women who were arrested following a sting operation because they were reportedly providing salon services inside their own homes.
“As some county judges advocate for releasing hardened criminals from jail to prevent the spread of COVID-19, it is absurd to have these business owners take their place,” Abbott added, in reference to some counties in Texas that planned to release nonviolent offenders from jail.
“The Dallas County district attorney announced a policy that he is not going to prosecute any thief who steals things valued at less than $750,” Abbott told Fox News host Sean Hannity on Wednesday. “At the same time, authorities in Dallas are talking about releasing inmates from prison or jail because of the possibility of contracting COVID-19.”
He also addressed the issue of Texans facing jail time over not wearing a protective mask in public.
“They were issuing fines and potential jail time for anybody who refused to wear a mask,” Abbott said. “Now, as you pointed out, wearing a mask is the best practice. However, no one should forfeit their liberty and be sent to jail for not wearing a mask.”
News of the governor’s update to the order and the imminent release of Luther from jail was met with immediate praise on social media, and critics were quickly schooled.
I’m thankful that @GovAbbott isn’t going to force Shelley Luther to spend her birthday in jail. I also think the governor should address why these orders were signed to begin with and let Texans go to work should they choose. This is a huge victory but it’s only the beginning. https://t.co/Tv9JM90GKa
— Tracy Beanz (@tracybeanz) May 7, 2020
Oh look, a black and an Asian hairdresser that work at Shelley’s salon, who are struggling, feeding their kids before they feed themselves. Put your declined race card back in your wallet, big guy. pic.twitter.com/cbOVqCGzUV
— Cari Kelemen (@KelemenCari) May 7, 2020
Proud of my governor. Don’t mess with Texas.
— Marcia foss (@foss_marcia) May 7, 2020
That he corrected it is good. That it happened in the first place is not.
— max (@chemaxtry) May 7, 2020
DONATE TO BIZPAC REVIEW
Please help us! If you are fed up with letting radical big tech execs, phony fact-checkers, tyrannical liberals and a lying mainstream media have unprecedented power over your news please consider making a donation to BPR to help us fight them. Now is the time. Truth has never been more critical!
[email protected]
Originally from New York, Powers graduated from New York University and eventually made her way to sunny South Florida where she has been writing for the BizPacReview team since 2015.
- Troops DEPLOYED on U.S. soil – Democrat governor goes off the rails! - September 4, 2023
- $800 Million GONE – Government deal goes completely wrong! - August 30, 2023
- Doocy presses White House spox on Biden health czar’s proposed two beer limit - August 29, 2023
Comment
We have no tolerance for comments containing violence, racism, profanity, vulgarity, doxing, or discourteous behavior. If a comment is spam, instead of replying to it please click the ∨ icon below and to the right of that comment. Thank you for partnering with us to maintain fruitful conversation.
