Anti-mask protesters disrupt Connecticut governor’s back-to-school event



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Anti-mask protesters disrupted Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont (D) ‘s back-to-school event on Wednesday night, which ultimately led to him being followed to his vehicle.

Lamont organized a back-to-school roundtable on Wednesday with education and public health officials on the safe return to school. All roundtable participants, including the governor, wore masks.

The meeting went largely smoothly, according to pictures. But things took a turn for the worse towards the end of the event, when hecklers began screaming as state health commissioner Deidre Gifford explained how close contacts of students who tested positive are determined.

Jeff Solan, superintendent of Cheshire Public Schools, who hosted the event, asked the audience to “show a little decorum.”

“If I can ask that we can have a little bit of decorum, please,” Sloan said. “We’re going to go to the aude – yeah, alright,” Sloan said above the rowdies.

The rowdies then continued to shout, one of them saying “talk, we can’t hear you”.

As Sloan tried to speak above the rowdies, he finally decided to end the meeting.

Separate images published by Fox 61 in Connecticut showed rowdies continued to yell as the meeting adjourned. This footage showed a person walking out with a sign saying “masks can harm you”.

The protesters eventually followed Lamont to his vehicle. Pictures of News 12 shows protesters walking away inches from the governor, confronting him even while in his car.

Max Reiss, a spokesperson for Lamont, told The Hill in a statement that “these bullying tactics will not change what we all know to be true and accepted by the scientific and academic communities: masks work and they help to keep our communities safe, especially young children who are not yet eligible for vaccination.

Lamont signed a decree requiring the wearing of masks until at least September 30.

Gifford said what happens after that point depends on what happens with coronavirus infections in the state. She noted that there had been “significant disruption” in the in-person learning areas where masks are not required.



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