This Friday will see the public protest to the recent announcement of the banning of spectators from attending high school sports and activities. As no additional answers were clarified in this evening’s press conference with Riverstone Health Officer John Felton, plans are already underway to protest, according to parents, and supporters of the cause.
“This is a collaborative effort,” stated Kari Zeier, one of the organizers of the protest and Founder of the Facebook group “Let Us Watch.” She stressed how the event is about all the parents and players who are being affected by the plan, regardless of the size of school or age of the player. According to parents, and organizers, Yellowstone County’s Health officer John Felton is not hearing their concerns.
“Our soul mission of organizing this is because the parents did not have a place at the table,” stated another organizer in regards to the meeting in which the school sports plan was established. “A large number of people were unaware and the parents are not being heard. They need a place to be heard. We as a group are extremely proud of Yellowstone County parents. We’ve done everything very well, and that didn’t work. The parents still weren’t heard, so 25,000 people signed a petition. They’re doing the right steps, but they aren’t being heard. The problem we have is that the parents were not listened to, but the bigger problem is that this decision was made without even partnering with the parents to discuss a solution. The parents weren’t even included.”
First of all, Coronavirus does exist and has devastated this country and Montana has had its increase in cases lately. But…..as a parent, I would be more devastated to not be able to see my son or daughter play their sports during their high school years, especially their senior year.
I understand the concern the health officials have for any event that could see an outbreak in cases, but I can walk into WalMart, Home Depot or Baskin Robbins and be surrounded by more people wearing masks and social distancing in a confined area, and not get infected with coronavirus. So if parents sat in the stands or stood by the fence wearing masks and are social distancing, I can’t understand the difference?