Idaho Parents, Children Burn Face Coverings During Mask Protest At State Capitol

Parents and children in Idaho took to the steps of the Capitol in Boise on Saturday to burn their masks amid safety restrictions put in place to stop the spread of COVID-19.

Roughly 100 people gathered to protest wearing masks. Idaho politicians, including Lt. Gov. Janice McGeachin and Idaho Rep. Dorothy Moon, were at the protest, according to the Associated Press.

In videos shared on social media, adult protestors can be seen encouraging kids to throw their masks into a fire. One protestor can be seen burning a surgical mask with Joe Biden written on it.

Protesters have claimed that being forced to wear masks limits their freedoms.

Organizers had permits and there were no arrests.

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The Idaho State Police on Sunday announced there would be an investigation after protestors were warned about adding fire to their demonstration.

“During the event, an open flame was ignited in a barrel,” the police said in a statement. “Those involved with the event were informed both before and during the event that open flames are not allowed on State Capitol grounds. The incident is under review.”

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has repeatedly stressed the importance of wearing a mask amid the coronavirus pandemic to protect yourself and others from infection.

However, wearing a mask isn’t a substitute for social distancing, which should be practiced in addition to wearing a face covering.

So far, over 170,000 Idaho residents have tested positive for the coronavirus and nearly 1,900 have died.

Although there is no state mask mandate, 11 cities and seven counties in Idaho have safety precautions in place to slow the spread of COVID-19.

When Biden took office in January, he called for all Americans to wear a mask during his first 100 days in the White House.