My Reaction to Anchorage Assembly Mask Mandate Public Hearings
Contributed by Jessica Wright
Last night my husband and I watched the hearing been live streamed on Facebook from 6pm to 11pm happening at Anchorage Assembly Hall. The assembly hall was packed with people who wanted to testify against the mask mandate that Anchorage Assembly has recently proposed and it looked like it will pass due to the fact that the majority of assembly members are Liberals like the former Anchorage Mayor Ethan Berkowitz. Early that day, my husband heard the hearing is going to be “riveting” according to Dan Fagan so he’s interested to know how it goes. “Riveting” indeed because many Anchorage people can no longer tolerate this new mask mandate and they were strongly against it.
At first, the hearing seemed like a normal hearing. Many citizens pointed out that wearing mask isn’t an effective way to combat the Corona Virus based on medical studies and it creates great discomfort even sickness. Many feel wearing a mask is a personal choice and shouldn’t be forced upon. Some argued that mask mandate isn’t necessary and it will most likely further damage the frail economy of Anchorage.
Some Anchorage residents accused the Assembly for overreach using their power to control the public through this mask mandates. Against the current Mayor Dave Bronson’s wish, the Assembly tell the people to compliant the mask mandate or they will face the penalties.
The next group is the group of professionals like doctors, counselors, teachers testified that wearing mask creates tremendous negative impact on the people especially the youth. The youth suicide rate went sky rocking. Isolation, anxiety, and helplessness were side effect of these mandates. These professionals said wearing mask creates a barrier for their patients /students in learning or coping. It will only make their lives even more difficult. Another group said by mandating mask is the violation of the citizens’ rights because people are not allowed to excise their freedom to choose for themselves.
Then many parents who talked about how difficult to help their children (some are disable kids) to compliant with the mask mandate last year. It opens my eyes to know this mandate has put these people in the living hell because mask mandates only hinging their lives on top of the challenges they have to face their disability. One pregnant mother who happened to be a nurse said she had to choose between her job and her baby because she’s unwilling to take vaccine that she cannot continue to work in that hospital. It feels so wrong that people lose their jobs because of the mandate.
The most unusual group is the youth which is a largest group in the evening. At first, I thought they were just the mouthpiece of their parents. Later I found out they were indeed speak for themselves which I applause for their courage to stand up for themselves. From their testimonies it unfolds what they had to go through as youngsters to live with this mask ordinance. One, they can’t learn well because they can’t see their teachers shape of mouths nor hear very well. Second they can’t see their school mates’ smiles. Third their bodies can’t function well by wearing the mask all day even at after school sports. Fourth, they were persecuted by this mask mandate when they don’t wear the mask even for a moment for their teachers or school mates will police them and demand them to wear the mask. One youth feel the mask mandate has divided the people because he has lost many friends over this issue. He also feels he has been demonized over this mask issue.
The hearing process began like a normal hearing each person spoke his/her logic, reasoning and personal stories. During the halfway, it turned into a religious session. A lady said her family moved away their homeland Germany to America 300 years ago because
they were seeking religious freedom. Now she feels the mask mandate has deprived her religious freedom. Then a teenager girl offered a prayer asking for more understanding. Then meeting shifted to a freedom fest because a group of teenager girls broke out the national anthem. The crowd cheered and joined them. It felt like a freedom concert because singing the national anthem automatically spread the patriotic spirit. Towards the last hour, however, the meeting turned into a heart wrenching pleading session because youths came forward one after another testifying what’s like to live through the mask mandate. By the time to close the meeting for that night, the atmosphere became heavy.
I think the audience were feeling grievous knowing what had happened to our youth. One citizen said, “This is a true definition of child abuse.” This mask mandate clearly has robbed our youth’s liberty, and their pursuit of happiness. I pray that we will fight for our freedom as well as our youth’s. We have moral responsibility to protect our little ones from the oppression of the tyranny. They are too Americans and they deserve the freedom that American promised. We need to defend them because if we don’t who will. Behold, the little ones.