On Thursday, July 9th 2020 a small business owner took steps in retaliation to aggressive harassment by the state of Oregon while the Salon owner was merely trying to adapt business practices during the mandated shutdown and take care of her family. Critics have noted the unfair bureaucratic separation between “essential” and “non-essential” business during the shutdown, and between the allowance of Big Retail to operate while forcing small businesses closed through draconian mandates.

Glamour! Institute for Freedom filed a civil rights suit against the State of Oregon and Governor Kate Brown on behalf of Lindsey Graham and her salon Glamour! Salon. On May 5th 2020 Lindsey Graham, owner of Glamour Salon in Salem Oregon chose to open her salon in protest of Governor Kate Brown’s unconstitutional and arbitrary shutdown. Graham wanted to get back to work to provide for her family. In response, Governor Kate Brown, the City of Salem, the Oregon Occupational Safety and Health Division (OSHA) the Oregon Health Licensing Office and, worst of all, Child Protective Services engaged in an systematic effort to harass, bully, and punish Lindsey Graham and her family for engaging in legal business activities.

“Governor Brown arbitrarily identified some businesses a “essential” and others like my business as non-essential. Governor Brown shouldn’t be in the business of choosing winners and losers in the marketplace. Every business is essential to the business owner. If Lowes, Safeway, Walmart, McDonalds, Domino’s Pizza and other businesses can operate safely, so can mine and every other business in Oregon” said Lindsey Graham.

Critics of the shutdown have long noted that so-called "pot shops", abortion clinics, leftist riots and other establishments or activities seen as warm to the left have not faced shutdowns, nor harsh treatment from the authorities.

Graham continued, “It was an act of retribution when Governor Brown sent Oregon OSHA to improperly and illegally issue my business a $14,000 fine. But when she sent child protective services to my home, to search it and interview my young children without me or my husband being present, I knew I had to stand up to the Governor. Her efforts to use the power of the state to intimidate my family have failed and as a result yesterday, we filed a civil rights suit in federal court. This should never happen to anyone else again.”

In a different context, Governor Brown is noted to have said, “revenge is a dish best served cold and slowly,” a statement that does little to burnish her credentials as a person who cares about all Oregonians.


--Ben Fisher

Post Date: 2020-07-09 20:47:09

Last Update: 2020-07-09 20:52:22