Utah parents fight back against state’s mask mandate

July 19, 2020 Amber Coakley US 0

Utah Gov. Gary Herbert takes off his mask before speaking during the daily briefing on the state’s efforts to fight COVID-19 Wednesday, June 24, 2020, in Salt Lake City. (Steve Griffin/ Deseret News via AP, Pool)

OAN Newsroom
UPDATED 9:03 AM PT — Saturday, July 18, 2020

A mask policy meeting in Utah was cut short due to public health concerns. According to recent reports, around 100 residents crammed into a small meeting space in Provo on Wednesday to protest mask mandates for children.

However, Utah County commissioner Tanner Ainge canceled the meeting before it started due to a lack of social distancing and face coverings.

“This is the exact opposite of what we should be doing,” he stated. “We are suppose to be physically distancing, wearing masks and so.”

This came after fellow county commissioner Bill Lee organized the meeting, while calling for a compassionate exemption from the governor’s policy for children with certain health conditions such as asthma and anxiety.

Utah Gov. Gary Herbert recently extended an executive order directing masks be worn by kids in grades K-12 in all schools across the state. A vote to pass the exemption was suppose to take place, but due to the cancellation the decision was never made.

Commissioner Bill Lee wants to send a letter to Gov. Herbert on behalf of Utah County asking to lift the mask mandate on children in K-12 schools.

Commissioner Tanner Ainge disagrees

Commissioner Nathan Ivie may be the swing vote at a meeting that begins in just a few minutes pic.twitter.com/xJ5iydCJJz

— Adam Herbets (@AdamHerbets) July 15, 2020

Although the meeting was immediately adjourned, concerned parents stayed behind for nearly two-hours sharing their frustrations. Cheers of freedom and constitutional rights were repeated by the crowd as discussions of social distancing and public health orders were met with boo’s.

A teacher in attendance said masks will give children a false sense of security while at school and parents claimed the science regarding the pandemic is not adding up.

The meeting has yet to be rescheduled.