Mask protests: Anti- and pro-mask advocates descend on Craven Board of Education office

Dozens of local residents, parents and even a few children protested both for and against Craven County School’s COVID-19 mask mandate in front of the School District office on Trent Road on Wednesday.

One student held up a sign saying, "Treat my classroom like a restaurant," referencing the ability of diners to remove their masks when sitting inside to eat.

The two sides were separated by only a few yards of grass and concrete waving signs as motor vehicles passed and honked. The two opposing viewpoints were far apart in their attitudes toward the school system’s decision to keep masks mandatory for all students and staff.

Approximately 20 residents were on hand at any given time, with a few people coming and going throughout the rally. The anti-mask group grew larger around 5:30 p.m. and the pro-mask protestors packed it in early to not be seen as being dwarfed in size.

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Carol More said she decided to attend the rally because she wanted, “less government and more freedom.” Though she does not have school age children she said she understood “the importance of our children’s learning and education.”

“I think we have all lost trust in the public health system and it’s hard to know what to believe and what not to believe,” More said. “But at the end of the day we are responsible for good hygiene and parents are responsible for their children, not the school board, not the government.”

Kate Blakefield, a retired teacher, said she was “confused and angry” by those who deny the science behind mask mandates.

“We want to keep our kids safe. Wearing a mask is a simple little thing to protect other people’s kids and to protect people’s parents and grandparents,” Blakefield said. “I can’t understand the selfishness of someone who wouldn’t do a simple thing to save someone’s health or life, that’s beyond me. Especially people who call themselves Christians. It is deeply offensive to me.”

This article originally appeared on Sun Journal: Pro-, anti-mask Craven County residents protest outside district office