Serving Whitman County since 1877
Serving Whitman County since 1877
Organized 135 school districts across the state
People lined Main Street in Colfax on Aug. 18 to protest the state's forced masking of students.
A father and daughter carry American flags on Aug. 18 as they joined people on Main Street in Colfax protesting the state's forced masking of students.
COLFAX - People lined Main Street in Colfax on Aug. 18 to protest the forced masking of students by Gov. Jay Inslee.
On July 28 the state mandated "all staff and students must continue to wear face coverings (or) masks, regardless of vaccination status," according to the state Department of Health. The mandate was extended to high school athletics on Aug. 10.
The group, For the Kids Washington, opposes the mandate and is organizing grassroots efforts throughout the state "to give control over our students' education back to the parents."
"We know that the governor is acting unlawfully and we are demanding that he respect our rights as parents to make our own decisions regarding masking our children," said spokesperson Brenda Gingerich. "Masks in schools should be optional!"
For the Kids Washington called on community members in every school district to rally on Aug. 18.
"If we join together with the same strategy to protect our children, our impact will be much greater," said Gingerich.
They organized people in 135 school districts including Colfax, St. John, Clarkston, Spokane, and Tacoma.
Bill Stevenson is the former editor of the Whitman County Gazette, Colfax Daily Bulletin and Franklin Connection. He has nearly 30 years of journalism experience covering news in Eastern Washington.
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