Thursday Feb. 17-4pm -Larkin Plaza–Van der Donck Park
Parents with children in the Yonkers schools concerned about the mask mandate that remains for students and staff are encouraged to attend a Unmask Our Kids rally on Thursday Feb. 17 at 4pm at Van der Donck Park, formerly Larkin Plaza.
City Councilman John Rubbo, one of the organizers posted, “Please Come Out & Support Our School Children. You do not need to have kids in our schools. All are welcome. This is not a Democrat or Republican issue. Adults are going into restaurants, the supermarket, a gym, they are going to parties and socializing. Our kids are allowed to do the same in the evenings and on the weekend without a mask, however, they are forced to wear a mask for seven hours a day in their classroom. They cannot socialize with their peers. Some of our school children are forced to eat lunch at their desk. Imagine sitting in the same place for 6 1/2 hours, with a mask on, without a real break. We parents are asking the Governor to act now. Let the choice be left up to parents. The science and data now supports parents choice in school buildings.”
Yonkers City Clerk Vincent Spano will also be attending and is spearheading the effort to speak out. “I am in favor of ending the mask mandate and will be attending this important rally. Hopefully we can send a loud message to Albany.”
Mayor Mike Spano has recently stated that he is against any further mask mandates for students in school and he now stands with the parents who are now against the continued mask mandate.
Assemblymember Nader Sayegh has also come out for an end to the mask mandate in school.
Many of the parents who will be attending say that they supported the mask mandate up until Governor Kathy Hochul lifted the mask mandate in most public places, but not for schools. “I think the fact that adults and children can now go anywhere, the movies, sporting events with thousands of people, but the minute my kids step foot in school they still have to mask up? Isn’t that a little too much, or even cruel?,” said Lana Morisanto, a Yonkers parent who will be attending.
Currently, Governor Hochul extended the mask mandate in schools until after the winter break. She will re-evaluate before students return to school in late February.
