Youngkin Rails Against Northam/McAuliffe Mask Mandates at Southwest Virginia Rally
Virginia | August 16, 2021
Republican nominee for Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin railed against the McAuliffe-Northam mask mandates at a rally in Pulaski County on Saturday. After the event, Youngkin sat down with The Virginia Star to discuss school mask mandates.
Earlier in the day, Youngkin, along with the statewide Republican nominees for Lt Gov. and Attorney General Winsome Sears, Jason Miyares, made their usual campaign speeches – but with one noticeable addition. All three GOP candidates pounced at the opportunity to attack Virginia Governor Ralph Northam and his predecessor, Democratic nominee for Governor Terry McAuliffe on mask mandates in schools.
Earlier in the week, Youngkin said:
With today’s student mask mandate announcement, Ralph Northam, Terry McAuliffe and Richmond liberals have made clear that they will stop at nothing to impose their will and take away parents’ ability to decide what’s best for our kids. Make no mistake about it, this mask mandate is the first step towards returning to a full shutdown of our economy.
We must respect parents’ right to decide what is best for their own children. If parents, teachers, and children want to wear a mask, they absolutely should do that, but there should not be a statewide school mask mandate.
Youngkin’s press staff added:
In addition to his opposition to statewide school mask mandates, Youngkin has repeatedly expressed his objection to vaccine passports and vaccine mandates. Youngkin has chosen to get the vaccine and believes that Virginians have the right to decide for themselves whether or not to get vaccinated based on their person circumstances… (Excerpts from the Virginia Star)