A class of elementary schoolers and gathering of graduate students in Nevada reacted very differently to the end of the state’s COVID-19 mask mandate last week, viral videos of the moments show.
SO WHAT
Which group of students you sympathize with says a lot about your politics.
WHAT THE VIDEOS SHOW
1. COLLEGE KIDS PROTEST: A few dozen graduate students and faculty members at the University of Nevada, Reno walked out of class Monday to protest face masks being made optional on campuses, after Gov. Steve Sisolak lifted the statewide mandate Thursday.
The protesters wore masks as they sang songs and chanted slogans like, “Reinstate the Mask Mandate” and “Go Pack? Step Back! Our health is under attack!”
- The Nevada Graduate Student Workers, which organized the demonstration, also started an online petition to demand Nevada universities reinstate mandatory masking.
- More than 2,000 people have signed the document.
2. ELEMENTARY SCHOOLERS CHEER: Young children, apparently in a Las Vegas elementary school classroom Thursday, erupted in celebration after their teacher informed them, “Staring tomorrow, we don’t have to wear masks anymore!”
“Is anybody excited?” the teacher asked as the kids jumped, danced and screamed with joy.
- Sisolak’s directive let school districts set their own mask policies, and the Clark County School District, which includes Las Vegas, nixed its mandate.
- Masks will still be required on school buses because of federal regulations.
WHAT’S HAPPENING BEHIND THE VIDEOS
With the omicron-variant-driven surge of COVID-19 cases receding, Nevada joined a growing list of Democrat-run states, from New York to California, that have announced relaxations of mask mandates and other pandemic restrictions.
- But most schools have continued to require masking, with the backing of the Biden administration and a majority of Democrats.
On Fox News Tuesday, Adam Laxalt, a Republican senate candidate and former Nevada attorney general, contrasted the two viral videos from his state to argue that supporters of mask mandates are either confused or power-hungry.
Laxalt told host Tucker Carlson: “[T]hose elementary kids cheering” represent “human nature” while the graduate students have “gotta be one of the only examples in history of college kids protesting for less liberty, for less individual freedom.”
- “But this is the propaganda that has affected this group, that of course has no risk and should be really excited to finally be liberated from these arbitrary rules,” he added.
- “When people want to be oppressed, you know that the tyrants have won,” replied Carlson.