Monday walk-out opens new wounds

EDITORIAL

The call came into the office Tuesday afternoon, a person wanting to know why our coverage of Monday’s rally in Westlake Village against the school vaccine seemed so “negative.” Why our story posted online was bent on mentioning protesters turning clenched fists toward the sky, while sheriff’s deputies stood nearby. Why it was necessary to report on a student threat at Agoura High School, possibly related to the events of the morning.

And why, along those same lines, we did not report that the 200 or so people who attended the rally at Westlake’s Foxfield Park began the day with a respectful singing of the National Anthem and a salute to the American flag.

As with any news story reported on these pages, it is never our intention to show bias or take sides. Yes, there were some protesters “pumping fists and vowing to oust school board members who turn a blind eye to their concerns,” as today’s Page 1 story states. While the fist pumps were a show of anger against authority, they also demonstrated enthusiasm for a cause.

Yes, there was a student threat overheard at the high school, as the principal acknowledged in a message to parents. And yes, sheriff’s deputies were on hand in case things got out of hand. These are reportable facts, and, as with any story we cover, it is our job to make sure they are known. So is the fact that the event was entirely peaceful, and that the parents who came to protest the vaccine mandate for teachers and students showed respect to those who didn’t agree with them. If anything, in social media, it was the parents who were denigrated for standing up for what they believe; this is one fact we failed to report.

With pandemic numbers improving, thanks mainly to the vaccine and its effectiveness, emotions remain raw. The new battleground seemingly is not whether people should wear a mask, but whether they should be forced to get the shot, especially children.

In truth, COVID-19 case rates for unvaccinated teens are eight times greater than for those who are vaccinated. Among residents age 12 and older, those who are haven’t been vaccinated are up to 22 times more likely to be hospitalized than those who are, Los Angeles County Public Health reports.

For all ages, the three coronavirus vaccines are generally safe and effective, yet some parents may still decide it’s best that their children not receive the shot. If there are religious or medical reasons to do so, this is their right. A vaccine for ages 5 to 11 hasn’t even been approved yet, so for now that piece of the story is a non-issue.

The fact is, the earliest the student vaccine mandate could go into effect is in January, with parents still having the right to opt out under the personal belief exemption.

In the meantime, while taking kids out of school and having them miss valuable class time may or may not be a strategy one would endorse, the parents are entitled to voice their concerns about the health mandates they face.