Anchorage Assembly member says requiring children to wear masks in schools is ‘criminal child abuse’

Emily Goodykoontz

Anchorage Assembly member Jamie Allard in an interview this week said she believes requiring children to wear masks in public schools is criminal child abuse.

Allard, a vocal opponent of the city’s previous mask mandate and other COVID-19 restrictions, first made the statement in a column on a conservative website last week. It was published ahead of an Anchorage School Board meeting considering the school district’s COVID-19 mitigation plan. The plan recommended requiring students and staff, in most cases, to wear masks indoors during the upcoming school year.

“I also agree with those who believe that masking children is nothing short of criminal child abuse. Don’t do it, Anchorage School Board,” wrote Allard.

On Tuesday, the Anchorage School Board accepted the district’s plan.

Asked about her statement in the column in an interview Tuesday, Allard, who represents Chugiak/Eagle River, said believes those who require children to wear masks, without the consent of parents, should face legal consequences — including Anchorage School District Superintendent Deena Bishop, who is in charge of the district’s COVID-19 mitigation plan.

“The superintendent is not an elected official, and I believe anybody who masks our kids should absolutely, without the written permission of the parent, should absolutely be forced, or be held accountable legally, and should be, in my opinion, punished,” Allard said.

Allard during the interview said that making children wear masks in schools takes away the parent’s right to choose, with their medical provider, whether their child should wear one. She said she believes it takes a toll on the mental health of children, makes it more difficult for children to talk, to understand others who are speaking, especially for those who are hearing impaired, and makes it more difficult to concentrate in school classrooms. Allard also said requirements to wear masks are government overreach: “They use science as an excuse. It’s not, it’s politics and it’s control,” she said.
“Not enabling that child to speak properly, hear properly — be able to read lips — and to breathe properly. So if you can’t as a child, breathe properly — your mouth is covered and your nose — that’s an issue,” Allard said.

“…It’s a form of criminal abuse. Yes. Mental and physical,” Allard said.

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