Supporting Parental Rights for the Health, Safety, and Future of Sacramento Children
WHEREAS, since the election in 2020, politicians in Washington and Sacramento have subjected Californians to a wider variety of controls over what otherwise would be personal decisions, including health and education choices, reactions to racial division, and public safety; and
WHEREAS, on March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization officially declared SARS- CoV-2 (“COVID-19”) a global pandemic; and
WHEREAS, Governor Gavin Newsom declared a State of Emergency as a result of the pandemic, and that declaration still exists to this day, resulting in hundreds of Executive Orders, many unrelated to the pandemic; and
WHEREAS, Sacramento County Public Schools were required to temporarily cease in-person instruction for their students as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, as mandated by the State of California and the Governor’s Executive Orders; and
WHEREAS, in order to resume attendance for the school year of 2021-2022, all students were required to wear masks to attend in person instruction, as mandated by the State of California and the Governor’s Executive Orders; and
WHEREAS, the California Department of Public Health has issued numerous and rapidly changing guidelines related to requirements for in-person attendance applicable to all public schools throughout the state; and
WHEREAS, on August 12, 2021 the Governor, by Executive Order, issued a vaccination mandate for all K-12 school staff; and
WHEREAS, on October 1, 2021 the Governor, by Executive Order, issued a vaccination mandate upon FDA approval for each age group for all students attending in person learning in public or private schools; and
WHEREAS, the Sacramento County Grand Jury issued a directive with findings that all staff and children attending in person public schools (K-12) and school events should be vaccinated, giving school districts 90 days to respond and develop an implementation plan; and
WHEREAS, the guidelines and regulations issued by the California Department of Public Health do not consider the statistically low risk of hospitalization or death in minors, local infection rates for K-12-age children, transmission rates, the impact of natural immunity on the spread of COVID, or any other local conditions related to the spread of COVID-19.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Sacramento County Republican Party (SCRP) calls for a return to local control related to COVID-19 guidelines as proposed by county public health officials and locally elected officials, including school boards; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the SCRP respects the rights of parents and taxpayers to voice their opinions in public meetings of elected officials, and encourages civil engagement; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the SCRP believes public officials should respect a parent’s right to determine how their children shall be educated, including their choice of attending a charter school, or homeschooling; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the SCRP believes all health decisions regarding minors should be in the hands of parents or legal guardians, including the right to medical privacy; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, the SCRP believes parents have the right to identify and opt out of age-inappropriate curriculum on any topic that conflicts with their personal beliefs; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, the SCRP recognizes the importance of in-person, on campus learning to the educational, emotional, and physical wellbeing of students; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the SCRP will provide resources to parents and taxpayers to encourage and facilitate civil and effective engagement with elected officials on parental rights, education, and health issues, including discouraging overreach by any National, State or local governmental authority.
Approved by unanimous vote of the Sacramento County Republican Central Committee on October 20, 2021.
