Stonington — As more than 20 people stood outside in support of barber shop owner Cat Thibodeau on Saturday morning, some also showing their support for President Donald Trump while others saying they don't want to make it political, Thibodeau began cutting hair again.
Gov. Ned Lamont said in late April hair salons and barber shops could open in the first phase May 20, but in response to complaints from some salons and wanting to be consistent with Rhode Island, the governor May 18 pushed the date back.
Closed for two months due to the coronavirus, Thibodeau opened Modern Barber and Shave on Wednesday in defiance of the governor's orders, was issued a cease and desist order by Ledge Light Health District Thursday morning, and didn't give haircuts Thursday or Friday.
But Thibodeau said she had 15 appointments scheduled Saturday. She is the only person cutting hair now, whereas before the pandemic, six barbers could cut up to 20 customers each a day.
Her first appointment Saturday was Groton resident Robert Caciopoli, who told The Day when the rally began at 9:30 a.m. that what was happening to Thibodeau was "fascist" and "nothing's going to change until every Democrat's voted out of office." He commented that in the 1960s, it was people on the left saying to be wary and suspicious of government, but now it's flipped.
When he walked into the shop less than an hour later, Thibodeau took his temperature with an infrared thermometer and put a face shield on over her mask. Caciopoli also wore a mask, eventually removing it from his ears and holding it to his face so Thibodeau could shave around his ears.
Thibodeau had an air purifier set to max airflow in one corner and a swiveling fan in another. After the cut, she tossed the barber cape in a hamper.
Thibodeau had said Thursday she was thinking about reopening, even if it meant getting arrested. She told The Day on Saturday she heard from police that if they physically saw her working, they would report that to the state's attorney's office, and the office would give police a recommendation.
She's hoping that by the time a recommendation comes down, barber shops will be allowed to open anyway. Thibodeau filed a lawsuit and said her "hail Mary" was hoping for a hearing Friday, but that didn't happen.
Steve Mansfield, director of health for Ledge Light Health District, said he's not at liberty to discuss anything about this specific barber shop due to pending litigation. But in general, he said he can only think of one or two instances in his 22 years at Ledge Light where people have not complied with a public health order, and in that case it's up to local police to enforce. The public information officer for the Stonington Police Department could not immediately be reached for comment Saturday.
Standing on the edge of the shop's porch Saturday, Lilly McBride of Westerly held a sign that said "We want work #OpenCT" on one sign and "(expletive) Lamont" on the other.
"She shouldn't go bankrupt on a virus that's not her fault," said McBride, who applied to be a barber at Modern Barber and helped Thibodeau set up. McBride commented that Thibodeau spent a lot of money making everything acceptable.
"With the last-minute decision to close salons, I feel it wasn't fair for those people who were willing and ready. I do support the option of choice," said Stonington resident Haley Smith, who was wearing an American flag mask, waving a flag and holding a sign that said, "State shut down it's what's 4 dinner."
Some of those standing in solidarity with Thibodeau were wearing a mask but many weren't.
Others had signs that read "Don't tread on me," "Trump – making liberals cry again," and "You can't fix stupid but you can vote 'em out! Vote Republican keep America great."
Some used words like "tyranny" and "dictator" to describe Lamont's actions. A spokesperson for the governor did not immediately respond to a call seeking comment. Many people driving by the barber shop on Route 1 in Pawcatuck honked their horns.
This story is being updated.
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May 24, 2020 at 12:04AM
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During rally, Pawcatuck barber again begins cutting hair in defiance of governor's orders - theday.com
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