A Tennessee teenager was harassed and mocked by adults at a school board meeting while discussing his grandmother’s COVID-19 death to promote the need to wear masks.
Grady Knox told the Rutherford County School Board that mask warrants would ensure a safer learning experience for students by protecting their family members.
But when the young man in high school mentioned the death of his grandmother, the crowd turned to him.
“This time last year, my grandmother, who was a former teacher in the Rutherford County school system, died of COVID because someone was not wearing a mask,” a masked and passionate Knox told the board, according to images from the audience.
Audience members could be heard saying “no,” “it’s not what happened,” and “shut up,” as she watched a maskless woman sit behind Knox laughing, rolling her eyes, and shaking her head forward. and back.
The interruptions continued to turn off the young speaker for 13 seconds until a moderator was heard saying outside the camera, “Hey guys, we’re here to act like professionals.”
Knox did not immediately return The Post’s request for a telephone interview, but told News 4 Nashville that the disorder was “complete madness.”
“If they laugh at me for a personal story about my grandmother, I feel disrespectful. So I was kind of shaken, ”Knox told the local station.
Board member Claire Maxwell said officials did not support the blast, according to the report.
“All of us wholeheartedly, all seven, we were ashamed of what happened and we want to make sure nothing else ever happens again,” Maxwell said.
Knox told the media that he hopes the now viral incident will not be badly reflected in his Nashville suburb.
“I hope they can see that there are people like me who want to change and look beyond all Democrats,” Knox said.
“As long as I can convey my message, I don’t think it matters what people think of me. In general, they are not the ones who make the decisions for the school ”.
Officials did not reach a consensus during Tuesday’s meeting, but the school board voted to implement a one-month temporary mask warrant Thursday, according to NBC News.