Group Growing Mustaches To Protest Shutdown
ST. PAUL, Minn. (WCCO) -- An organization impacted by the government shutdown has deiced to protest the shutdown by having their employees grow mustaches.
Brian Miller and Dorian Hasselmann work for a non-profit organization and usually, they hold employee training at a state park. But the shutdown has closed the parks and now they're growing mustaches to show their dissatisfaction.
"During that training we always take a photo and we have a tradition of wearing funny mustaches for the photo. This year we decided to put those mustaches to a different use," said Miller.
Miller and Hasselmann quickly put together a facebook page called, "Staches Against the Shutdown." As of late Friday afternoon they had 129 followers.
Female co-workers have decided to join in by not shaving their legs.
"I would say it's about an even split," said Miller. "The idea for women to not shave their legs came from a woman who wanted to participate in some way. She didn't have the ability to grow a facial hair, so (laughs)."
Miller said the shutdown has already had some major impacts on their programs. Their non-profit group contracts with the state and the shutdown could impact close to 400 people they work with closely.
"Most of the people we work with are in job training," said Miller. "They're between the ages of 15 and 25 and they're trying to get skills to go out and work."
Miller and Hasselmann said they hope more people will join their hairy protest.
NewsRadio 830 WCCO's John Hines Reports
