Some Minnesota parents have launched a lawsuit seeking Governor Tim Walz (D) to instate another peacetime emergency. The suit argues that another peacetime emergency is necessary so that a mask mandate can be issued to protect the rights of children in schools.
The group filing the lawsuit is called Parents Advocating for Safe Schools (PASS). Neither an online or a social media presence for the group could be found. The lawsuit is trying to force Gov. Walz to issue another peacetime emergency as well as impose a mask mandate for public schools.
As was reported by KARE 11, “Attorneys for PASS claim they have grounds for a suit because of a Minnesota Constitutional provision requiring “adequate” education under the Minnesota Human Rights Act, and medical evidence of the importance of masks in preventing the spread of COVID-19.”
KARE 11 also reported that a lawyer who is representing PASS in the lawsuit also represented Minnesota business owners who were defying Gov. Walz’s pandemic orders. The lawyer, Marshall Tanick, has been in practice for over 45 years, according to his website.
A news release from the attorney representing the PASS group allegedly said, “While a number of school districts in the state, primarily those in the Twin Cities metropolitan area, have adopted mandatory mask policies, the majority have not, particularly those in some outlying suburban areas and greater Minnesota.”
Gov. Tim Walz ended the COVID related peacetime emergency on July 1, after almost sixteen months of remaining in place. State officials have recommended that students wear masks while in school, but have not mandated it at this point. The MDH has also been encouraging everyone to get vaccinated before the start of the school year.
As was reported by District Administration, two of Minnesota’s largest school districts have announced that they will be mandating masks for children without consideration of age or vaccination status. Minneapolis schools have been requiring masks since August 9 and St. Paul schools since August 18.
According to Minnesota’s COVID dashboard, there have been around 124,000 cases in children ages 19 and under since the beginning of the pandemic. The data from the Minnesota Department of Health also shows that a total of three children under the age of 19 have died from COVID.
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Hayley Tschetter is a reporter with The Minnesota Sun | Star News Network. Follow Hayley on Twitter or like her Facebook page. Send news tips to [email protected].
Photo “PASS” by Parents Advocating For Safe Schools.
