Schools
Maskless Protesters Offering Disinformation Disrupt School Board
They carried signs, refused to wear masks, and compared the school board members to tyrants. They forced the school board to meet online.
PORTLAND, OR — The Portland Public School District board knew Tuesday night's meeting would be decisive. They gathered to discuss whether to impose a vaccine mandate on students 12 and older.
As expected, dozens of protesters — many carrying American flags, signs referencing tyranny and misinformation, and all refusing to wear masks — arrived and caused a disturbance. At one point, Portland police were called. there were no arrests.
The result was that while the meeting was initially in person, it was suspended and later reconvened as an online meeting.
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"One of the agenda items, the discussion about a vaccine mandate for students age 12 and older, garnered substantial public interest," the district said in a statement.
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"Numerous attendees entered the Blanchard Education Service Center unmasked. PPS is adhering to the statewide masking requirement to protect the safety of staff, students and the public. As a result of numerous attendees refusing to properly wear face coverings, the PPS board chair suspended the meeting."
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