On Monday, a Texas parent took off his clothes during a school board meeting to point out social norms and the need to have masks.
James Akers spoke Monday at the Dripping Springs Independent School District Council meeting and told the board he has been a resident of downtown Texas for 15 years, has sent three children around the school district and is still in has one more in high school.
As reported by KVUE, the Dripping Springs Independent School District decided it would be optional to make masks for the 2021-2022 school year to comply with Governor Greg Abbott’s (R-Texas) ban on mask mandates. Dripping Springs is a rural town located about 30 miles west of Austin, Texas.
“I’m here to say I don’t like the government or any other entity (just ask my wife) to tell me what to do, but sometimes I have to squeeze the envelope a little bit. And I decided I’d go not just talking about it, but going for a walk, ”said Akers, who appeared to have been masked.
“At work, they made me wear this jacket. I hate it. They make me wear this shirt and this tie. I hate it,” Akers said as he began pulling out the respective clothing items.
Appearing to speak with a facetiousness, Akers took off his shirt as he continued, “On my way here, I ran three stop signs and four red traffic lights, I almost killed someone around here, but for God’s sake they’re also my roads, so that I have every right to drive as fast as I want, to make the turn I want. “
“Today I came here to school and the parking lot is full and I decided I was going to park where the hell I want, which in this case was a handicap,” he added, taking off his pants and causing a turn. of public animations.
“These are simple protocol people. We follow certain rules for a very good reason,” Akers said.
At that point, a school board member said, “Mr. Akers, I understand; I think you’re a swimmer, but if you’d mind putting on your pants again to comment, you’d appreciate it.”
Akers then partially repaired and left the podium.
Speaking to KRON-TV, Akers explained that his decision to retire from the school board meeting began as a joke with his friend.
“There are too many voices that I think are deepening for political reasons and that don’t absolutely think about the common sense decisions we make every day to accomplish everything,” Akers told the station.
“From driving on the road and being safe and courteous with other drivers, to not parking in places for the disabled, all these rules that are given to us every day that we follow because they make sense and we know in ourselves that it has sense for community “.
“It’s an easy message,” he added.
Numerous Texas school districts have decided to issue mask warrants to their students and teachers, directly challenging Abbott’s ban on mask warrants.
This fight between the state government and the local school district has turned into a contentious legal battle, with a judge ruling Wednesday that he cannot enforce the ban on mask warrants. Judge Tonya Parker issued an interim injunction over Abbott’s ban, ruling that the policy violated counties’ abilities to reduce the spread of COVID-19.
However, on Thursday, the Texas Supreme Court upheld Abbott’s decision to impose such a ban, writing in its ruling that “the status quo, for many months, has been government oversight of these decisions. at both the state and local levels “.
“This status quo should remain in force as long as the appellate court and potentially this court examine the parties’ substantive arguments to determine whether the plaintiffs have demonstrated a probable right to the redress sought, ”he added. the court.