Page 14 - Florida Sentinel 3-18-22

Feature
Governor Scolds Students For Wearing Masks In His Presence
BY GWEN HAYES Sentinel Editor
Governor Ron DeSan- tis pushes the importance of parents and/or guardians being in charge of their chil- dren’s lives, especially during the COVID pandemic. But last week, he didn’t follow his own advice when he asked several high school students to remove the masks they were wearing for their own safety. Apparently, they were wearing them at the request or suggestion of their parents or guardians.
The students from Mid- dleton High School were at the University of South Florida to learn more about cyber security from the infor- mation the governor intro- duced.
His comments to the stu- dents made national news and social media immedi- ately, and the Tampa com- munity has also been talking. Here are some of their com- ments.
Carolyn Collins imme- diately denounced the gover- nor’s statements. She said: “The Governor's comments to the students at USF were inappropriate, disrespectful and inconsistent with his claims associated with all of the bills he promoted during the 2022 legislative session.
CAROLYN COLLINS
The Governor has clearly stated that if the bills make it to his desk he will sign them.
“The Governor has stated the reason for his plans to in- tervene with many of the partisan and bias bills in the Florida 2022 session is "parental rights." Florida cit- izens should be preparing, especially the parents, to reg- ister to VOTE, check their voting status and reach out to others to get them ready to VOTE for candidates and is- sues that respect their PARENTAL RIGHTS.”
She further stated, “par- ents have to care for sick children and unfortunately funeralize their transitioned children with no assistance from the Governor or the state. Parents alone with their children’s physicians should make decisions, non- political decisions, about
STATE REP. FENTRICE DRISKELL
their children’s vaccines, at- tend schools and wearing MASKS, when it come own to COVID-19. Parents need accurate medical and scien- tific information to make de- cisions, not political information. Let us all PRAY, WORK and VOTE - with informed decisions; vet- ting our candidates.”
State Representative Fentrice Driskell also made a statement immedi- ately after the governor’s comments. “This is awful! Shame on Governor De- Santis for bullying students who have the freedom to choose to protect themselves by wearing a mask,” she stated.
Atty. Sean Shaw said, “The Governor's behavior to- wards high school students who were simplify- ing wearing a mask was inex-
STANLEY GRAY
cusable, petty, and embar- rassing. To bully high school students who have chosen to wear masks to pro- tect themselves and their community from COVID-19 transmission is beneath the dignity of any elected office; much less the Office of the Governor. He is a shockingly ill-informed man who clearly does not have any in- terest in points of view that differ from his own. Unfor- tunately, when someone like that is the Governor, we all suffer.”
Stanley Gray of the Hillsborough County Urban
ATTY. SEAN SHAW
League said: “The demand to un-mask is very concerning. It is my understanding that we/they/students have a choice with respect to wear- ing a mask. Anyone, but es- pecially an elected official, to verbally override an individ- ual’s personal choice, is be- yond concerning. What if the children were following their parents’ direction? Does the governor have the right to override their parents?
At the least, what I saw on the news is an example of bullying. However, I view it as a VIOLATION of one's civil liberties.”
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