‘Protect our Dragons.’ Carroll parents demand mask mandate during silent protest.
A crowd of about 50 parents who want the Carroll school district to implement a mask mandate held a silent protest outside of the school administration building Monday afternoon.
Jennifer Shutter, a physician who favors having a mask mandate, said she was waiting to get inside the school board meeting to present a petition signed by more than 100 Southlake doctors and 850 residents.
“I am a physician, and as a physician, we all have a responsibility to first do no harm and speak up and protect our community and our children,” she said.
Shutter added that most doctors who signed the petition could not attend the protest because they are “taking care of critically ill patients in the ICU.“
The petition also urged the district to continue improving ventilation and to limit exposure to high-risk activities.
Shutter also held a sign that read, “I’m tired of seeing people suffer and die.”
Other protesters carried signs saying, “Protect our Dragons. Mask up, VAX up.”
Shutter’s husband, Ed Hernandez, said that he was also attending the protest out of concern for his son, who is a special education student.
His son is nonverbal, cannot wear a mask and is in delicate health, Hernandez said.
Colleen Hendricks, who also supports a mask mandate, said her children have already graduated.
“I’m part of our progressive community and a former teacher,” Hendricks said. “Children under 12 cannot get the vaccine has to be protected. Children are all we have.”
While the parents stood silently carrying their signs, others opposing a mask mandate waited in line to get into the meeting also carrying signs that read, “No masks,” and “Masking kids is child abuse.”
Juan Duran said he’s opposed to mask mandates and said they are unfair to children and teachers.
“A mask mandate will be detrimental to my 5-year-old daughter. I’m afraid I will have to pull her out of school,” he said. “How can you keep a kid from taking a mask off?
Duran said he is an international pilot and a first-generation immigrant.
“I am tired of people telling me what I need to believe,” he said. “I came to this country with a dream, freedom of choice. I am not going to give up my freedom and the freedom of my kids.”
During the board meeting, where public comment lasted for over two hours, people also spoke on both sides of the mask debate.
The board agenda did not include discussion on mask mandates.
This story was originally published August 23, 2021 at 5:53 PM.