Hundreds of parents and students rallied at a Board of Education meeting in Yonkers Wednesday evening protesting over mask mandates in schools. 

Many of the parents there fought with school board members who are not actively trying to ban masks at schools, claiming the masks are a form of child abuse that hurts kids more than they protect them.

“We are looking at the science, we are pushing for parental choice,” said Margaret Madden, one of the parents at the meeting.

Many of the attendees are from United Yonkers, a group of concerned parents who insist they are not “anti-vaxxers” but rather everyday people who simply believe they should decide what’s best for their children in the fight against COVID-19. 

Saunders High School superintendent Dr. Edwin Quezada says the mask mandate policy is set by the state, not by the school board.

He also insists that he believes schools are safer when students are complying with the COVID-19 protocols.