Akron, N.Y. (WBEN) - As part of a week-long organized disobedience effort in Erie County, students at area schools staged a walk-out Thursday morning in opposition to the county mask mandate and continuing requirement to wear masks while in school.
At Akron Schools, about 50 students walked out of the school quietly at 9am and were accompanied in support by their principals and superintendent.
A handful of parents watched in support from the sidewalk outside the school, occasionally engaging with beeping cars that were passing by during the demonstration.
Students were peaceful, led various chants and sang the national anthem at one point during the protest which lasted about a half hour.
"A lot of it was just to stand up for ourselves and our rights that we should have, especially in this country, because a lot of it's been taken away with these mandates," said student Ayana Dzialak who spoke with WBEN at the end of the protest. "I hope that we get a message out and that our voices are heard and that hopefully things can change for us."
Earlier this week, Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz indicated that any students and staff who violated the mask mandate while in school would be removed from school.
At the end of the demonstration, the students and staff filed back inside the building and returned to their school day.
