Earlier this week Kermit Ruffins took to Instagram, as he often does, to address the way in which the city has attacked his establishment, The Mother-in-Law Lounge, while still allowing Bourbon Street businesses to operate as usual during the pandemic. Ruffins captioned under a video of him with a slew of New Orleans police cars behind him on Instagram: “JUSTIFY THIS. Live on Bourbon Street tonight!! Just to prove a point.We’ve been shut down for 2 weeks now and I’m positive that this action will further delay my reopening but somebody has to stand up for the local club owners and the targeting of black owned bars.” He included Instastory coverage of packed Bourbon Street activity.

As the city of New Orleans has lifted restrictions, Bourbon Street business owners have seen a bevy activity that did not necessarily stop when the rest of the city was affected by pandemic protocols. Kermit Ruffins’ Mother-in-Law Lounge was closed by the city at least twice for violating protocol while tourists continued to strut and party on Bourbon Street. Ruffins told reporters at Channel 4 WWL, ““They have more money on Bourbon Street, and you have more white people on Bourbon Street.” Notably, Ruffins had a high profile GoFundMe campaign to preserve his business. 

He admitted Bourbon Street is “one of [my] favorite places” and WWL wasn’t shy about showing the high level of activity going on in the French Quarter.

Those who frequent the Quarter can echo Ruffins’ sentiment as activity during the pandemic has rarely, if ever, slowed down, aside from the earliest days of the pandemic. And yet, the Claiborne Avenue area businesses are shuttered and penalized, something Ruffins attributes to race.

Those interested in supporting the work of Kermit Ruffins will be pleased to know that he has returned to perform Tuesday nights (6 p.m.) at Bullet’s, located at 2441 A.P. Tureaud Avenue.

Update: Mayor Cantrell has responded via Twitter. The Mayor states: “Kermit is very aware of his continuous violations of the COVID guidelines, and it must be strongly stated: Many complaints came from many of the residents from the immediate community surrounding his business.”