‘Voted to mask your child’: Florida group targets pro-mandate school board candidates

An anti-mandate Florida group is targeting school board members running for re-election who voted to forcibly mask children. 

The Republican National Hispanic Assembly of Florida is placing signs that read “Voted to mask your child” next to the campaign signs of school board candidates, issuing a warning on social media. 

“Just a heads up for those running for School Board in the State of Florida," the group wrote on Twitter. “If you voted to mask our kids we are putting these signs right next to your political signs so that parents can make their informed decisions!” 

The Hispanic-American group included a link for those who want to purchase signs. 

The State of Florida has been staunchly anti-mandate throughout the pandemic. As reported by Frontline News in March, Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo publicly criticizing mask-wearing as having no benefit. 

“To the doctors who tell you that these things save lives, ask them what did the two randomized clinical trials that we’ve done during the pandemic, what did they show?” Ladapo challenged. “Ask them that when they tell you that these things save lives. One found nothing. Zero benefit. The other found a small benefit, like a tiny benefit that’s a little bit methodologically shaky.”  

Ladapo went on to say that science is conclusive about masks being completely useless for young people.  

“And by the way, none of them found a benefit in young people. Not a single one found a benefit in young people. That’s the highest-quality evidence. That’s what it showed,” said Ladapo.  

“Good doctors who were brave enough to say what the science showed got punished,” continued Ladapo. “That’s happening and it’s still happening where people are still holding up the illusion that these things save lives. These things are not saving lives.”  

The remarks by Ladapo came just after Florida Governor Ron DeSantis told students at the University of South Florida to take off their masks.  

“You do not have to wear those masks,” DeSantis said. “I mean, please take them off. Honestly, it’s not doing anything and we’ve gotta stop with this COVID theater. So if you want to wear it, fine, but this is, this is ridiculous.”