Petitions to re-open hair salons

South Carolina cosmetologists and Laurens State Rep. Stewart Jones will hold a joint press conference at 11 this morning at the state capitol, and afterward Jones says he will deliver more than 50,000 petitions to the Governor’s office. Amy Howie, owner of Papillon Salon in North Myrtle Beach, started collecting petitions on April 15th. In her petition, she wrote that “We are going to service one client in the salon at a time while wearing a mask and gloves. How is that riskier than a hundred people in Walmart where the majority isn’t even wearing masks and gloves?” Her petition went viral nationwide, and she claims to have collected approximately 50,000 signatures in 10 days. Sari Powell of Ballentine, said “On March 1st, I opened the doors to my new salon, and on March 19th, I was mandated to close. Today, I’m worried about the possibility that I could lose everything I have poured my life into.” Lawmaker Jones called the press conference to raise awareness of the plight of business owners and employees across the state. Jones said, “Throughout this crisis, we have seen government halt and stifle labor which it deemed ‘non essential.’ Hair stylists, physical trainers, cooks, waitresses, event planners, and many others—ALL livelihoods are absolutely essential.”