Parents, Some With Kids In Tow, Rally In Hauppauge Against Masks

HAUPPAUGE, NY — Around 50 Long Islanders gathered Tuesday morning at the Suffolk County H. Lee Denison building in Hauppauge at another "Unmask Our Children" rally. Similar rallies were held two weeks ago, including one attended by U.S. Representative Lee Zeldin.

Tuesday's rally was attended by N.Y. State Assemblyman Jarett Gondalfo, who said to the gathered parents, some who had their children skip school to attend in protest: "Your voice has been throughout the state."

On a flyer widely circulated before the event, East Islip School Superintendent John Dolan was mentioned as a "special guest" but he did not attend.

Rose Stein, of Massapequa, organized the rally with fellow Nassau parents. She told the crowd that this was the group's tenth rally and "it's time to get these masks off our kids."

Although the school year is winding down, some of those gathered expressed concern about how in-school mask policy will be determined for the summer and next fall. Some children spoke, expressing their frustration with the social distancing, mask and shield policies in their schools.