A man in the small city of Dripping Springs, Texas (just west of Austin), caused a stir at a school board meeting this week by stripping down to his underwear.
At the moment, the Dripping Springs Independent School District has a policy that states wearing a face mask is optional for the upcoming school year.
Related: Former talk show host unzips pants during homophobic anti-mask meltdown inside discount store
Dad James Akers, who has three children that have been through the local school system, was allowed 90 seconds to speak at the meeting. He decided to make a point about how people are expected to follow rules and stick to social norms, and that wearing a mask should be considered a current social norm because of Covid.
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“At work they make me wear this jacket,” he said, pulling it off. “I hate it. They make me wear this shirt and tie,” Akers continued. “I hate it.” He continued to take off items of clothing.
He went on to claim that on the way to the meeting, he’d ran three stop signs and four red lights, adding “I have every right to drive as fast as I want to.”
As he removed his undershirt and dropped his pants, he said that arriving at the meeting, he’d parked in a space for handicapped drivers. This elicited both cheers and jeers from some in the audience, according to the Fort Worth-Star Telegram.
Two police offers stood nearby, ready to move should Akers take his strip routine any further, but he stopped when he reached his underwear.
Akers said that stop signs may be inconvenient, but they save lives.
“It’s simple protocol, people. We follow certain rules. We follow certain rules for a very good reason.”
His point made, Board president Barbara Stroud hammered her gavel and asked him to put his clothes back on.
“Mr. Akers I understand — I believe you’re a swimmer — but if you wouldn’t mind putting your pants back on for a comment, that would be appreciated.”
You can watch a clip of his speech below.
Akers later told KXAN that wearing a mask was just another of those “common sense” decisions everyone should make in order for society to function effectively.
Related: Gay bars lead the way in requesting vaccine proof but policies vary wildly across US
Texas has been battling a surge in Covid cases in recent weeks. Like in Florida, some have questioned the actions of the state’s Governor, Greg Abbot (R), in his handling of the pandemic. Legislation passed a few months ago effectively banned hospitality venues from asking about the vaccine status of customers.
Yesterday, Abbot also updated an order banning vaccine mandates by any state entity. The order had previously targeted “emergency approval” vaccines. After the FDA granted the Pfizer vaccine full approval this week, Abbot – who has himself recently recovered from Covid-19 – updated the order to cover all vaccines.
wikidBSTN
Thumbs up! 🙂
PhillyProud
It’s about time someone said this out loud. How much closer to the end of this pandemic this would we be if it wasn’t for republicans and their ‘murican attitude? They’re so busy thinking about themselves and their individual “rights”, that they don’t understand their consequence. They’re like little children. This man is making complete sense.
whereshouldistart
IDIOTIC PARENT: Forcing my son to wear a filthy mask for six hours is CHILD ABUSE!
ME: Your kid wears his underwear all day long and he has not yet mastered the art of wiping his own ass after he shits.
Should we arrest YOU for CHILD ABUSE?
GayEGO
Vaccines, masks, and social distancing are logical protection against the virus. It amazes me how those who oppose it have any common sense.
Larry
Brilliant
missvamp
i’m so proud of this fellow texan. why can’t we all be this brave & smart? just wear it, get the shot & be a decent citizen. it’s not hard. ffs!!
ScottOnEarth
I didn’t know there were still decent people living in Texas. I guess there’s at least one.
BudAnderson
What an incredibly stupid thing to say. I don’t know where on earth you are, Scott, but I entreat you to take a look around. You will find the same sorts of people no matter where you are. There are conservatives, there are liberals, there are good, there are bad, there are gay, there are straight, and apparently always people like you, Scott, who are bigots who classify everyone from one region as being one thing. How asinine. Even those of us in “flyover country” have ideals, Scott, which we are proud to espouse and protect. We do so, even in the face of those who think they are ever-so clever with their bon mots and oh-so-witty party quips about generalized portions of society and nationwide populations. I only hope that your superior part of the country, wherever that might be, keeps you safe from all illness and stupidity.
Kangol2
Texas has several of the largest, heavily Democratic cities in the US: Houston, Dallas, Austin, San Antonio, El Paso, etc. Google is no one’s friend but it is there on your phone or laptop, a click away.
Openminded
Well Said, Bud Anderson
Liquid Silver
Wear your effing mask, even if the Federal government is too weak-sauce to demand it. Or your State governments. Have any cities even done it?
And watching people play apologist for a thousand dead a day is…not amusing.
Lancealot
One father, who is very much opposed to his child wearing a mask in school, admitted that his son actually likes wearing the mask; he thinks they’re cool because it makes him look like a ninja.
The kids are probably ok with it. It’s the parents who are pressuring them to not wear one.
Openminded
It’s sad that politics has out ranked common sense. I’m convinced many of the people harping against masks know that they are wrong, but they just can’t support something that they wrongly believe the Republican party is against.