Anti-Mask Parents are Threatening America’s Youth
Our children are back in school, and our communities are already paying the price for misguided GOP COVID policies. As of today, 52,000 Texas students have tested positive for COVID, and 45 school districts have had to close schools. Florida’s statistics are even worse, with over 200,000 students testing positive and nearly 50 active educators having died of COVID since school opened just weeks ago. As a result, we are building our war chest and preparing to help defeat lawmakers who ignore science and CDC guidance.
I am sure you have seen the outrageous recent school board meetings happening across our country. Anti-mask parents steal the stage to refute mask mandates and argue to put our teachers and students at risk. If only these parents were as enthusiastic about our schools’ lack of resources and funding, special education needs, and keeping our schools free of gun violence.
A seventh-grade student in Missouri spoke at his local school board meeting and exclaimed, “Masks don’t hurt my mental health. Quarantining and virtual schooling hurts my mental health”. These children are tired of the absurdity surrounding this pandemic, and we are too.
It is more evident now than ever that we need local officials who will stop this madness and stand up for science and safety. We must elect progressive school board members, city council members, and mayors who will put their feet down and say enough is enough. Another school year amid a pandemic, and our right-wing leaders continue to appease anti-mask parents and citizens. Cases and deaths will start rising again, and our hospitals are already filling up.
It is crucial that we keep democratic voter turnout high in local and municipal elections. Staying involved and organizing throughout election cycles is imperative. Our most important elections happen at the local level, while motivation and excitement only seem to occur during presidential and mid-term elections.
Democracy never quits! We need Democrats and progressives to rally all year round, not just every two to four years during big, high-profile races. Rideshare2Vote is about to be on the ground in several states to take voters to the polls for the November elections.
The fight to end this pandemic is far from over, and our elected officials must be on our side to keep our children and our communities healthy. We have the power to vote these careless leaders out; we deserve officials who prioritize health and safety.
Help us power the polls in November! Rideshare2Vote is only as strong as our donations, and we plan on being a force to be reckoned with. American communities depend on us. Rideshare2Vote can continue in the work that we do with your donation today.
by Taryn Rayburn
