Youngkin, Virgina AG join parent lawsuit challenging county school mask mandate

Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R) and Virginia’s attorney general and have joined parents who filed a lawsuit against a local school board’s decision to mandate face masks in schools.

Both Youngkin and Attorney General Jason Miyares (R) filed a motion on Wednesday, requesting to join the lawsuit against the Loudoun County School Board.

The school board voted to uphold a mask mandate for the schools in the county, despite Youngkin’s executive order that allows parents to decide whether or not they want their children to wear masks to school.

“Parents know what is best for their children and should be able to decide if their children wear a mask for eight hours a day,” Miyares’ office told WTOP.

With the lawsuit, the Virginia officials and parents are seeking to obtain a temporary restraining order that would prevent the school district from continuing with its mask mandate in defiance of Youngkin’s order, WTOP reported.

Seven Virginia school boards have filed a lawsuit against Youngkin’s order, arguing that it violates state law. A hearing on that lawsuit was held in Arlington Circuit Court on Wednesday.

Though Youngkin’s executive order went into effect last month, nearly 53 percent of the state’s school districts are reportedly still requiring masks for all students.