On Saturday, a gathering of around 100 individuals took place outside the Idaho Capitol in Boise for an anti-mask rally. While the event was permitted and no arrests were made, a particular scene raised eyebrows among Idaho State Police and social media users. During the protest, a fire was ignited, and parents were seen urging their children to throw face masks into the flames. This demonstration comes on the heels of public health experts reiterating the importance of mask-wearing.
In videos circulating on social media, children can be seen tossing what appear to be new face masks into the fire as adults cheer them on. “Destroy them. They’re death,” one child was overheard saying. Another adult encouraged the kids, shouting, “Not all at once!” as they eagerly grabbed masks by the handful to toss into the fire. One adult remarked, “Smell the freedom, baby.”
Epidemiologist and health economist Eric Feigl-Ding commented, “Mask burning is our new book burning. Parents teaching their kids to burn masks in Idaho is peak 2021 right now… SMH.” The “Burn The Mask” rally, attended by about 150 people, aimed to protest local mask mandates that demonstrators argued infringe on their personal freedoms.
While Idaho’s governor has not implemented a statewide mask mandate, several counties and cities, including Boise, have local mandates in effect. Reports indicate that some politicians were aware of the burn barrels and encouraged participants to bring masks—or even printed proclamations related to the mandates—to be burned.
Republican state representative, Rep. Sarah Clark, stated, “It should be great. So far, I think there are about 50 burn barrels set up around the state for people to get involved.” Congressman Tom Harris from California voiced his concerns on Twitter, saying, “Rejecting science is not anti-elite; it’s just plain stupid. Masks help prevent the spread. You are putting your family at increased risk.”
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently published a report linking mask-wearing to fewer COVID-19 infections and related deaths in the U.S. The CDC stated that mandating masks was associated with a decrease in daily COVID-19 case and death growth rates. “We have seen this movie before,” said CDC director Rochelle P. Walensky, emphasizing the need for continued mask-wearing as vaccination efforts ramp up.
In conclusion, while some rally participants are choosing to burn their masks, health experts are urging the public to continue using them to help end the pandemic.
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Summary: Parents in Idaho were seen encouraging their children to burn masks during an anti-mask rally at the Capitol, raising concerns among health officials. Despite local mandates and health experts advocating for mask use, the protest sought to challenge these restrictions. The CDC emphasizes that mask-wearing is crucial in controlling the spread of COVID-19.