Pirate's Cove

The Department of Justice will most likely be investigating these parents as terrorists soon

Parents not happy with California student vaccine mandate protest at Capitol

After Gov. Gavin Newsom imposed the nation’s first COVID-19 vaccination mandate for schoolchildren, parents unhappy with the move converged at the Capitol on Monday to protest.

California parents against the mandate were also expected to keep their kids home from school as part of the protest.

The mandate requires that all elementary through high school students get the shots once the vaccine gains final approval from the U.S. government for different age groups. So far, that approval only has come for those 16 and up. Newsom has said the mandate is expected to apply to grades 7 through 12 on July 1, 2022.

The interesting this is that a lot of these parents will get their kids the COVID vaccine. They just do not want Government to mandate this, because, let’s be honest, it does not have the effectiveness of required shots like for smallpox and mumps, and, it doesn’t have the long term and short term research for effects.

Parents, kids and teachers have walked out of school today to protest the states #COVID19 vaccine mandate, gathering on the west steps of the state calitol. pic.twitter.com/eg1zdziT9q

— Brian Hickey (@kcraBrianHickey) October 18, 2021

“I’m not against anyone getting vaccinated,” student Maddox Smith said. “I’m against being forced to get vaccinated. I think it’s about power more than anything, not public health.”

That kid gets it.

Seattle police officers face vaccine mandate deadline, as ‘costly litigation’ next-step for defunded force

The some 200 Seattle police officers who have declined to get vaccinated for COVID-19 by Monday’s deadline will likely bring litigation against the city to prevent their mass termination, as the department is already struggling with staffing shortages seriously affecting 911 response.

National Police Association President Betsy Brantner Smith, a retired police sergeant, told Fox News Digital on Monday she anticipates some “costly litigation,” as far more police officers will push back than what the city administration understands.

Before Monday’s deadline, Seattle Police Officers Guild’s President Mike Solan said the Seattle Polcie Department had already lost some 300 officers over the past 18 months, and he anticipated another “mass exodus” in the coming week.

Well, this should all end well, right? Over in Chicago, police are already being placed on paid leave for refusing to get vaccinated (despite having worked since this all began without being vaccinated). How many will soon retire with the mayor threatening them, leaving the city woefully short on police officers? Which will mean those that are left will be deployed from the rich neighborhoods down, leaving many areas without police protection.

Elsewhere (below the fold)

Teachers bid farewell to students as Oregon’s statewide vaccine mandate arrives

“It’s been very emotional. It’s been very hard for kids to understand this,” one Springfield kindergarten teacher says.

Monday, unvaccinated teachers across Oregon are saying goodbye to their classes. That’s because the day marks the deadline for healthcare workers, educators, and some state employees to prove they’re fully vaccinated against COVID-19, or have a valid exemption.

In the local area, 96.4% of all Eugene 4J district staff have been fully vaccinated, while that number is 93.15% for Springfield Public Schools.

The school district says Springfield has 101 unvaccinated employees, and as of November 1st; 16 of them will no longer be employed with SPS. According to a memorandum between the School District and the Springfield Education Association, educators who fail to comply will be put on unpaid leave effective October 19th through the remainder of the school year.

So, last year’s heroes are this year’s villains. And schools are already short-staffed. Also in Oregon, the head coach of the Washington State football team was let go, along with four assistants. And, you know with these contracts that the state will end up paying him in full, around $3 million a year.

And the UK Guardian, representing a nation who’s religion policies created the 1st thing in the Bill of Rights, Freedom of Religion (remember, this comes before speech and press), is upset

Religious exemptions threaten to undermine US Covid vaccine mandates

This month, California became the first state to require Covid-19 vaccines for all schoolchildren but the provision came with a loophole: students will be granted religious exemptions. (snip)

Epidemiologists are concerned that the loophole will embolden the vaccine-hesitant to evade requirements and undermine the state’s progress against the pandemic. And lawyers and legal experts are bracing for a deluge of complaints over the blurry lines that define “sincerely held” objections to the vaccine. (snip)

As such requests flood state agencies and school administrations, public health experts and parents have been asking lawmakers to tighten exemption rules, as they did in 2015 when they passed a law eliminating the personal belief exemption for childhood immunizations. But that law doesn’t apply to immunization requirements issued without a vote from the legislature. Richard Pan, a pediatrician and state legislator who authored the 2015 bill, has said he will consider addressing the loophole if cases surge once again.

The 1st Amendment is a “loophole” now. The California Constitution also says (Article I, Declaration of Rights, Section 4)

Free exercise and enjoyment of religion without discrimination or preference are guaranteed. This liberty of conscience does not excuse acts that are licentious or inconsistent with the peace or safety of the State. The Legislature shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion.

Pretty clear that protection of religious rights is not a loophole.