For Immediate Release
Three Years After The Infamous Mimosa Raid,
Formal Elegance
Will Close
Bridal & Prom Stores in Columbus, GA
West Point, GA - Formal Elegance Owner, Judy Wilkinson, also known as the Mimosa Lady, informed employees Thursday that she has decided to close the retail stores located in Columbus, GA. Wilkinson thanked her employees for their dedicated service and friendship. The store will fulfill all of its obligations to customers and will continue to ship special ordered items through the internet portion of the company, www.formalelegance.net
, which will be moved to West Point, GA. Customers will also continue to have access to the store's seamstress. "I sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this may cause our customers, but I assure you, we will do everything to make this transition as smooth as possible. We are asking that ALL merchandise that is on layaway and special orders that have arrived to be picked up at the Bridal Shop BEFORE March 1, 2013. Formal Elegance will close today, Saturday, February 16 at 5:00p.m. and will remain closed through Wednesday, February 20 for inventory and to combine both the Bridal and Prom Stores into one location. Formal Elegance will open Thursday, February 21 at 10a.m. to kick off the Going Out Of Business Sale with a FauxMosa Party (Columbus Style Mimosas). Because you are a valued customer, we are extending a special invitation to shop before it is advertised to the general public as a Thank You for your business.Wilkinson stated, "We cherish our customers and this is not about them. This decision was a hard one to make after 23 years in business, but I have come to the realization that I can no longer support the Columbus Consolidated Government with my tax dollars. Since the raid, I have continued to be harassed for speaking out against the selective prosecution, and I will no longer keep quiet about what happened that day, and the following three years, for fear of retaliation. It is hard enough to run a business without the threat of going to jail because a relative or girlfriend of someone in law enforcement doesn't get a promotion, or is reprimanded and decides to use the system to carry out their personal vendetta. There are many laws in place to protect employees, but business owners should be afforded the same protection. I am forever grateful to our customers and to the citizens of West Point, Columbus, and the Greater Valley Area ... and especially to the law enforcement officers who supported me during this difficult time", said Wilkinson.
After retiring from Formal Elegance, Wilkinson will finish the book on The Mimosa Raid and plans to open a Public Relations Company that specializes in Political and Non-Profit Fund Raising. With over 23 years experience, Wilkinson is excited to begin this new journey. In comments to her employees, Wilkinson stated, "I truly believe if you complain about something, you do something to change it. This new career will enable me to have a hand in helping choose better leaders... Leaders that understand the problems facing this country, and overcriminalization is a huge problem. I really do believe things happen for a reason and God gives us gifts to use. I hope he will give me the strength to speak out about what happened to me, and to bring awareness to the fact that everybody is probably breaking a law right now, and they don't even know it. There are too many laws and regulations being created in this country. We have become one of the most regulated countries in the world"
.
"Overcriminalization" describes the trend in America to use the criminal law to "solve" every problem, punish every mistake (instead of making proper use of civil penalties), and coerce Americans into conforming their behavior to satisfy social engineering objectives. Criminal law is supposed to be used to redress only that conduct which society thinks deserving of the greatest punishment and moral sanction. But as a result of rampant overcriminalization, trivial conduct is now often punished as a crime. Many criminal laws make it possible for the government to convict a person even if he acted without criminal intent (i.e., mens rea). Sentences have skyrocketed, particularly at the federal level. Every citizen should be concerned about this trend and every leader should be more concerned about the unintentional consequences of poorly and overly broad ordinances. This information and more can be found at www.overcriminalized.com.
Wilkinson opened Formal Elegance in 1989, and it has grown to be the largest bridal and formal shop in the area. She has also served on the West Point City Council for the past 12 years and has served in some type of appointed or elected capacity since the age of 22. At the time of her arrest, Wilkinson was on the Public Safety Committee and has a voting record of being Pro (Good) Law Enforcement. Wilkinson serves on numerous boards and is an event planner and fund raiser. She is married and they have two children - one recent college graduate and another in law school.
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Please Join Us
Thursday,
February 21st
for the beginning of the
Formal Elegance
Store Closing Sale
&
To Thank
Judy
For Her Hard Work & Service To Our Community!
Faux Mosas will be served!!!
Thank You For
Allowing Us To Serve You!
