Commentary
Marlena: A Michigan Hero
by Adam de Angeli
Posted March 24, 2021
On March 19, 2021, Michigan's attorney general, Dana Nessel, boasted that Marlena Pavlos-Hackney, owner of Marlena's Bistro and Pizzeria in Holland, had been arrested by Michigan State Police, charged with contempt of court for failing to comply with a judge's order to shut down her restaurant in a civil case filed by the appropriately-acronymed "MDARD" (the state department of agriculture).
Dana Nessel was so giddy to report her latest victim that she referred to her by her first name, "Marlena," in her own news release.
"MDARD suspended Marlena's food establishment license on January 20, 2021," Nessel sneered. "...On February 11 the Administrative Law Judge issued a decision and an order continuing the suspension of Marlena's food license."
In the larger context of the evil of our state government being brought down upon citizens that refuse to let their government destroy their lives without resistance, it may seem like Nessel's choice to refer to her victim by her first name is only a minor detail.
It isn't.
It's everything.
Think about it! That Nessel would brag about destroying "Marlena's" livelihood – calling her by her first name – speaks volumes about Dana Nessel's mindset. Marlena Pavlos-Hackney wasn't just some citizen to her: she was Marlena, a woman who stood up for her rights and refused to obey unlawful, immoral, meritless orders. Nessel took her personally. Marlena was a threat to her, and so Nessel intentionally put her down by calling her by her first name, right in her news release.
Dana Nessel is a sociopath. Her conduct throughout her term of office has certainly suggested it, but the seemingly insignificant detail of calling her "Marlena" rather than "Mrs. Pavlos Hackney" is actually a powerful indicator of Nessel's mindset.
Marlena Pavlos-Hackney is a hero. Tens of thousands of businesses in Michigan have been crushed by the governor's insane policies of the past year. Only a handful dared protest, much less resist, their own destruction at the hands of these policies.
The state went after the tiny few that stood up for themselves. First it was Karl Manke, who fought back and defeated the charges. Then it was Huron Valley Guns. Now it is Marlena Pavlos-Hackney.
Other Democrat-governed states have done the same: very publicly used every power of state government to try to crush and humiliate the people that stand up for themselves.
In all cases, the intention is to "make an example" by creating the most public, most devastating personal destruction possible.
Supporters raised a quarter million dollars for Marlena's defense and support. It sounds like an astronomical success, but her actual costs could be that much or more. A gym owner in New Jersey has been fined more than a million dollars.
Knowing the brutality they face from the state – and its mob of leftists that will harass them forever – the people carrying out this nonviolent civil disobedience can only be seen as the most courageous patriots we have.
A lot of people say they care about our country, but do nothing to defend it. Or more often, do nothing of significance; nothing that puts themselves at any risk. Few ever knock on a single voter's door.
Marlena put her life's work and herself in harm's way to stand up for the essential liberty of every Michigan citizen.
If 100 other business owners had such courage, the Attorney General wouldn't have the resources to persecute them all. If a thousand did, the entire house of cards would crumble.
Michigan has over 800,000 small businesses employing half of our total workforce.
That's how rare Marlena's courage is.
But if people continue to organize and speak out, many other might be moved to find that courage within themselves.
Dana Nessel was so giddy to report her latest victim that she referred to her by her first name, "Marlena," in her own news release.
"MDARD suspended Marlena's food establishment license on January 20, 2021," Nessel sneered. "...On February 11 the Administrative Law Judge issued a decision and an order continuing the suspension of Marlena's food license."
In the larger context of the evil of our state government being brought down upon citizens that refuse to let their government destroy their lives without resistance, it may seem like Nessel's choice to refer to her victim by her first name is only a minor detail.
It isn't.
It's everything.
Think about it! That Nessel would brag about destroying "Marlena's" livelihood – calling her by her first name – speaks volumes about Dana Nessel's mindset. Marlena Pavlos-Hackney wasn't just some citizen to her: she was Marlena, a woman who stood up for her rights and refused to obey unlawful, immoral, meritless orders. Nessel took her personally. Marlena was a threat to her, and so Nessel intentionally put her down by calling her by her first name, right in her news release.
Dana Nessel is a sociopath. Her conduct throughout her term of office has certainly suggested it, but the seemingly insignificant detail of calling her "Marlena" rather than "Mrs. Pavlos Hackney" is actually a powerful indicator of Nessel's mindset.
Marlena Pavlos-Hackney is a hero. Tens of thousands of businesses in Michigan have been crushed by the governor's insane policies of the past year. Only a handful dared protest, much less resist, their own destruction at the hands of these policies.
The state went after the tiny few that stood up for themselves. First it was Karl Manke, who fought back and defeated the charges. Then it was Huron Valley Guns. Now it is Marlena Pavlos-Hackney.
Other Democrat-governed states have done the same: very publicly used every power of state government to try to crush and humiliate the people that stand up for themselves.
In all cases, the intention is to "make an example" by creating the most public, most devastating personal destruction possible.
Supporters raised a quarter million dollars for Marlena's defense and support. It sounds like an astronomical success, but her actual costs could be that much or more. A gym owner in New Jersey has been fined more than a million dollars.
Knowing the brutality they face from the state – and its mob of leftists that will harass them forever – the people carrying out this nonviolent civil disobedience can only be seen as the most courageous patriots we have.
A lot of people say they care about our country, but do nothing to defend it. Or more often, do nothing of significance; nothing that puts themselves at any risk. Few ever knock on a single voter's door.
Marlena put her life's work and herself in harm's way to stand up for the essential liberty of every Michigan citizen.
If 100 other business owners had such courage, the Attorney General wouldn't have the resources to persecute them all. If a thousand did, the entire house of cards would crumble.
Michigan has over 800,000 small businesses employing half of our total workforce.
That's how rare Marlena's courage is.
But if people continue to organize and speak out, many other might be moved to find that courage within themselves.
