DeSantis order barring masks in schools faces first legal challenges – By Joseph Choi (The Hill) / Aug 8 2021
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ (R) ban on mask mandates in schools has received its first legal challenges in the form of two lawsuits that were filed on Friday, challenging the executive order’s constitutionality.
Attorney Barry Silver filed one of the lawsuits on behalf of his client, a father of three who has one child who is currently ineligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine and has a history of childhood asthma, CNN reports.
“Florida is among the states with the highest number of Covid-19 victims in the country, and the number of afflicted people is growing rapidly. The danger to Plaintiff and his children and all others they come into contact with is severe, unreasonable, and growing by the day,” the suit stated, pointing to Florida’s state constitution that says “adequate provision shall be made by law for a uniform, efficient, safe, secure, and high quality system of free public schools.”
The second lawsuit was filed on behalf of the parents of school-aged children across the state that argues Florida’s constitution guarantees a safe school environment and provides counties with the ability to govern themselves.
