Parents and teachers in California are planning a statewide walkout Monday in protest of school vaccine mandates.
Earlier this month, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a requirement saying eligible children must get vaccinated against COVID-19 or be tested regularly in order to attend in-person classes at public and private schools.
The mandate also applies to teachers and staff members. Those that don’t comply will be required to do an independent study, but there are medical and religious exemptions.
The protest was spread on social media and parents are supposed to take their children out of school while staff stay home in support.
A letter from the Oak Run Elementary in Shasta County read “Parents, educators, and students across the U.S. will engage in peaceful noncompliance activities to remind government officials that individuals should have the final say when it comes to their health”. The school plans to cancel classes Monday, according to KRCR-TVCR.
A rally was held Friday in Redding, California to protest the mandate. People gathered with signs reading “My body, my choice” and “Support parents choice”.
ABC 7 Bay Area reported one parent who said “We know that if our children stay home from school that that will impact the funding that schools will get for that day”. “And we want them to know that we’re serious about not being forced to vaccinate our children,” they added.
The potential size of Monday’s event is unknown, but the walkout has gained massive support online.
