A national movement of parents, students, teachers, and staff called Mom’s For Liberty has set tomorrow, September 10th, as a nationwide school walkout event protesting mask mandates. The walkout is set to start at 10 AM.

Parents of Alberton School students shared stories with Missoula County Tyranny yesterday about their children being threatened by school administration on Wednesday. According to parents, Superintendent Jeff Crews and Principal Mica Clarkson told students that if they chose to walk out of class they would suffer “major infractions” on their academic record and school administration would call police.

Last week, the Montana Department of Public Health released an emergency health rule stating that there was no evidence that masks are effective at reducing infections of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that can cause COVID-19. State Superintendent of Public Instruction Elsie Arntzen and Governor Greg Gianforte also released a joint statement in August advocating for parental choice regarding masking of children. A lawsuit has been filed with several Missoula school districts and Missoula County requesting a restraining order and injunction against school mask mandates.

One Alberton School parent, Nicole Henry, said that she would be attending the protest set for 10 AM just outside Alberton School on Friday in solidarity with student walkouts, “I’m sending a note with my child giving him permission to join me outside at 10am on the 10th for the protest to avoid infractions. I will keep my first grader home with his dad and inform the school why.”

Henry, who is active in the movement to free students from the unscientific mask mandates, said that several Alberton staff and teachers have come to parents asking for advice on how to combat administration mandates on masks. Henry has shared State Superintendent contact information with the staff and teachers, but mentioned that teachers and staff said that they were too afraid to reach out to Arntzen because they were afraid they would lose their jobs.

Principal Clarkson stated that the school handbook gave her authority to call the police on students who walk out of class, but one parent clarified that authority applies only if students leave campus.

The Alberton School Board, Superintendent Jeff Crews and Principal Mica Clarkson did not immediately respond to emails requesting clarification regarding what “major infractions” would be levied against students who choose to walkout and where in the school handbook it mentions that calling police when students exit classrooms is justified. We will update this story if we hear back.

Parents will be gathering for a protest outside Alberton School at 306 Railroad Avenue tomorrow at 10 AM.

UPDATE (09/13/2021 @ 8:20 PM): Superintendent Jeff Crews responded to Missoula County Tyranny confirming that administration notified students that if they participated in the walk out, they could receive an infraction on their record. Crews did not confirm or deny that administration mentioned police action for students who participate. We emailed Crews again asking for clarification. We will update readers if Crews responds.

UPDATE (09/13/2021 @ 12:10 PM): Images from last Friday’s peaceful #WalkOutUSA mask mandate protest outside Alberton School. Parents shared there were 15-20 adults who showed up and two students who walked out of class. The mother of one student who attended, Nicole Henry, shared that her child said, “the kids that were excited to join, but were too scared.” Henry told her child, “It’s ok don’t be disappointed in them it’s not their fault they are scared.”

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