If you’re worried the youth of today are idly sitting by as their freedoms are stripped away by a tyrannical government, have faith. Here are a few examples of Colorado youth standing up for their rights and defending their freedoms.
In August over one thousand parents, children, and community members gathered in peaceful protest to protest a highly contested school mask mandate that started just one week after school resumed.
Families from across Douglas County gathered on the grounds of the Douglas County School Board offices in downtown Castle Rock, smiling and waving signs as countless trucks and vehicles honked in support of parent choice.
Children skipped school for the day to enjoy a first-hand civics lesson, as they exercised their right to assembly with hand-made signs expressing their desire to attend school in-person and unmasked.
That same week, numerous high schools witnessed student walk-outs across Douglas County. Students from Legend High School and Ponderosa High School made national news as they walked out in protest of these unfair mask mandates. At STEM high school, one student chose to wear a sign of his own creation, stating “medical freedoms” and “no masks.”
On October 9, 2021, the newly formed Douglas County Health Department issued its first Public Health Order, which allowed parents to opt their students out of the local school board mask mandate. The first couple of days were bumpy as individual schools figured out how to navigate the influx of exemption requests, which they had to grant in order to avoid fines of up to $5,000 per incident.
Three students were initially denied exemptions at STEM School in Highlands Ranch, but they persisted. After the story was featured on local news, the school sent a late-night email explaining the situation and agreeing to comply with the new Public Health Order.
This email left parents asking, where is the compassion for the students who are suffering emotional or physical issues from extended mask-wearing day after day? By the next day, the students who chose to file mask exemption forms were mask-free and enjoying the freedoms they had fought to protect.
All is not lost for our youth as many are aware of more than you may think. Let us continue to encourage and support our young people in Colorado, as they are our state’s future leaders.
I urge you to join as a single voice, requesting the Colorado legislature to greatly reduce federal overreach. Direct them to pass the COS Action resolution calling for an Article V Convention of States.
