The school board in Franklin, Tennessee reinstated a mask requirement for elementary school students this week, and one of the stars of “Good Luck Charlie” was among the outraged parents who objected.
Due to the fact that children under the age of 12 are still ineligible for the Covid-19 vaccine, many schools are requiring masks as the number of people who test positive for the delta variant continues to rise.
Why don’t you watch this “violent” video without the “rant” commentary from the likes of @InsideEdition Its like watching Vader without the soundtrack… not so scary after all! #williamsonCounty #schoolboard #LeighAllynBaker #moms4liberty #MaskMandates pic.twitter.com/d706wvJwi2
— Leigh-Allyn Baker (@L_A_Baker) August 14, 2021
In addition, regardless of a student’s vaccination status, the CDC recommends wearing masks indoors for K-12 schools.
While there is no statewide policy in Tennessee, the Williamson County Board of Education has approved one that will begin today and last until September 12, 2021.
#GoodLuckCharlie star Leigh-Allyn is being criticized after speaking out against vaccines and mask mandates at a school board meeting. pic.twitter.com/28E7xSgYdo
— Pop Crave (@PopCrave) August 12, 2021
And Leigh-Allyn Baker, who played Amy Duncan, the matriarch on the Disney Channel series, was not pleased.
“My name’s Leigh-Allyn Baker and I’m a California refugee. I gave up everything there: a really successful Hollywood career, television shows, gave it all all up for freedom and to come to this friendly place in Tennessee and be greeted with open arms and I love it here,” she said during Tuesday’s meeting.
Both of my children have documented disabilities from vaccination injuries. Hence our medical exemptions. The first business that doesn’t allow us in gets sued, along with our weak Governor @GovBillLee #VaccinePassport #ADA #CovidPassport #tennesseestands #tryme
— Leigh-Allyn Baker (@L_A_Baker) April 7, 2021
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Baker claimed she was “granted a medical exemption” when it came to vaccinating her two sons, claiming they had been hospitalized in the past due to “all their immunizations.”
“My children are those rare children that will just not be able to get the vaccine and still I would never put them in a mask,” she continued, “because their brain needs oxygen to grow, which the neurologists can confirm.”
False!!! I never handed him a Bible. I never said what they quoted me as saying.
Tenn. school board member says he's stepping down after seeing parents clash with doctor | TheHill https://t.co/zKlWofYT5h— Leigh-Allyn Baker (@L_A_Baker) August 13, 2021
There is no evidence to back up Baker’s claim that masks stifle development, but that didn’t stop him.
“Anyway, the real part of the clown show is that you all think that you actually have the authority to mandate this,” she said, getting cheers from the crowd. “Because there are these books that I have, and I have them as a gift for you: the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, the Bill of Rights and the Federalist Papers. Also, the Bible. And these guarantee my freedom and yours and our children’s to breathe oxygen.”
The whole article is misleading. This guy was always set to retire to move to DC to join his wife who was fired for writing this mature minor doctrine… pic.twitter.com/KEZPk0Xi21
— Leigh-Allyn Baker (@L_A_Baker) August 13, 2021
The audience erupted in applause and even a standing ovation in response to that statement. Her remarks, on the other hand, are unlikely to have made much of a difference, given the mandate’s current status.
Following the meeting, anti-mask demonstrators began harassing those who were wearing them in the parking lot.
Anti-mask demonstrators heckle masked people (some of whom are Drs/nurses) leaving 08/10/21 #Williamsoncountytn #schoolboardmeeting following one man to his car and shouting “we will find you” & “we know who you are” @WilliamsonHmPg 1/2 pic.twitter.com/u8wbdfr3Xj
— Matt Masters (@formvscontent) August 11, 2021
As one video from outside the meeting shows, the crowd began chanting, “Will not comply” and “No more masks!” before chasing down a few people going to their cars.
“We know who you are! No more masks! You can leave freely, but we can find you and we know who you are,” two men started shouting at another person trying to leave. “You will never be allowed in public again!” they continued, as police did little to try and deescalate the situation.
Hey @THR, you’re going to need to fix this or my attorneys will be reaching out. Don’t you dare put words into my mouth that were never said! I see what you did there! pic.twitter.com/72qYvKc6mk
— Leigh-Allyn Baker (@L_A_Baker) August 13, 2021
Parents who do not want their children to wear masks for medical or religious reasons can fill out a “opt-out” form, which Baker has encouraged others to do, but the school must still approve it.
Baker also appears to have Jay Cutler’s support, as he has been tweeting about the Williamson School Board meeting and the mask mandate from his newly-activated, verified account all week.
Sharing a screen shot of an article about the call for masks before the meeting, he wrote, “Not this parent. Really hope I’m not put in the corner by Twitter in my first 24 hrs.”
Not this parent. Really hope I’m not put in the corner by Twitter in my first 24 hrs. pic.twitter.com/YgDMJixM5z
— Jay Cutler (@JayHasTweets) August 10, 2021
Both Cutler and ex-wife Kristin Cavallari have been open about their stance against vaccinating their children — claiming on WWHL in 2014 that “there are very scary statistics out there regarding what is in vaccines” and explaining they “feel like we’re making the best decision for our kids.”
