Parents in Idaho went to the state capitol building with their children on Saturday to burn their masks, contesting the masks’ continuing mandates and violating local orders.
Republican Idaho Governor Brad Little has never imposed a masking mandate across the state, but several state districts have imposed regulations across the county to slow the spread of the deadly virus.
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Eastern Idaho Public Health Director Geri Rackow announced earlier this week that due to the drop in cases and hospitalizations, the state’s seventh district was withdrawing its mask mandate.
“I feel that continuing to issue public health orders is no longer justified,” said Rackow during a board meeting on Thursday, the East Idaho News reported.
Although she added: “I appeal to personal responsibility for everyone to make the choice for themselves to help slow the spread of the disease.”
Videos posted on Twitter on Saturday by a reporter for the Oregon Public Broadcasting show parents surrounding an old burning bin while children threw masks on the flames. Photos of Democratic lawmakers were also reportedly burned at the protest “burning the mask”.
Although counties across the state have seen masked mandates revoked, cities have continued to apply safety precautions – including Boise.
Fox News was unable to immediately contact Boise Mayor Lauren McLean’s office to comment on Saturday’s events.
McLean issued a request for masks in late February, after the Central District Health Council voted to reverse mask regulations, prompting Republican lawmakers to introduce legislation that would prevent government officials from imposing mask mandates.
Republican state deputy Karey Hanks said she had done research “on the physical, emotional and even mental damage to our bodies, and possibly even our souls” that the mask mandates allegedly caused.
“When people wear face masks, they tend not to get so far away socially, they don’t tend to wash their hands, they take other safety precautions because they feel like they’re just taking care of the mask,” she said.
Idaho has confirmed more than 172,000 cases of coronavirus since the pandemic began, with more than 1,800 deaths.
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President Biden asked everyone to wear a mask during the first 100 days of his presidency and said that by May the United States should have 300 million vaccines – almost enough to vaccinate the entire country.
But states like Texas and Mississippi rejected the president’s calls for safety and lifted all restrictions related to the coronavirus, including mask warrants.
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Biden was frustrated by Republican officials’ decision not to follow the advice given by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and to take continuing precautions, calling Republican governors “Neanderthals” earlier this week.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.