When we think of revolutions, we probably imagine two kinds of people: The academic types pushing out theories, and the rough-and-ready foot soldiers willing to take those theories into actual battle. What we don’t think of are people who cut hair for a living. All across America, though, it’s the hairstylists who are leading the charge in our anti-lockdown revolution.

The first hairstylist to take a stand against irrational and unconstitutional lockdown rules was Shelley Luther of Dallas. She was so determined to save her salon – and therefore save her family and her employees’ families from poverty and starvation – that she faced down Dallas County law enforcement and an unusually arrogant judge (who was still receiving his regular paycheck, of course).

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Hair Stylist Shelley Luther was told she could avoid jail time if she apologized for not closing her hair salon until it was allowed to open.

LISTEN TO WHAT SHE TOLD THE JUDGE pic.twitter.com/HAyi8pWCIW

— Terrence K. Williams (@w_terrence) May 6, 2020

Luther's principled stand earned her a hefty fine and seven days in jail. On the streets and in the Texas Supreme Court, though, common sense prevailed. The lockdown’s first revolutionary hero had won her battle.

Another hairstylist revolutionary emerged in Michigan when 77-year-old Karl Manke wouldn't back down before Governor Gretchen Whitmer and her minions objecting to his insistence that, in order to eat, he was going to continue to cut hair. Manke got a lot of support for his position just because the lockdown as a whole, which was initially intended to be a two-week exercise to “flatten the curve,” has turned into full-blown tyranny.

It helped, too, that Governor Whitmer has been issuing lockdown orders that fund her coffers (e.g., alcohol and lottery tickets) or support her principles (abortion), but make it illegal for stores to sell seeds or for gardeners to mow lawns. Whitmer’s arbitrary, capricious, and political ukases became even more offensive when word emerged that, while Whitmer is harassing Manke, a gay swingers’ club is still legally operating.

On Wednesday, Manke was joined by myriad other barbers of the revolution for “Operation Haircut” at the capitol. The Stasi, er, the Michigan State Police, instantly went to work to shut down the revolution:

Owosso barber Karl Manke at the MI Capitol steps as a part of Operation Haircut pic.twitter.com/lyhKnV2PPN

— Anna Liz Nichols (@annaliznichols) May 20, 2020

Demonstrators have arrived at the Capitol for “Operation Haircut.” All individuals engaging in haircuts are being educated on the law. Those who do not comply will be cited for disorderly conduct. All citations will be forwarded to the AG’s Office for review. pic.twitter.com/XVb8VVPYFx

— Michigan State Police (@MichStatePolice) May 20, 2020

On the other side of the country, in Salem, Oregon, Lindsey Graham, who owns Glamour Salon, opened her salon in spite of the $14,000 fine Governor Kate Brown levied against her. Graham is supposed to keep her business closed during a shutdown that Brown announced will last until July 6, despite only 137 deaths in the state. To increase the pressure against Graham, the governor sicced Child Protective Services on her, a tried-and-true method of terrorizing working- and middle-class people into doing anything the state wants lest the state seizes their children.

What is it about hairstylists that gives them this kind of backbone? Other small business owners have opened despite the lockdowns, but most haven’t been as willing as the hairstylists to take whatever punishment leftist politicos mete out. The stylists aren’t dodging the law; they’re staring it down and, in genuine civil disobedience style, they’re willing to become martyrs to the cause of liberty.

Just remember, when freedom returns to America, you may have a hairstylist to thank.