The Delta variant continues to rampage through California communities, leading to rising hospitalizations and exacerbating tensions between institutions and anti-science extremists. Two violent incidents that occurred last week have underscored the explosive situation.
The first occurred Wednesday, Aug 11 at Sutter Creek Elementary School in Amador County, about an hour after the first day of school had ended. According to Superintendent Torie Gibson, a parent verbally assaulted the school’s principal over its mandatory face mask policy. When a teacher intervened, the parent physically assaulted the teacher. The teacher had to be admitted to the emergency room.
Gibson appealed to the district’s parents for calm and patience following the attack.
“I beg that we do our best to set all feelings aside and look at what is best for students."
That’s a tall order, as anti-mask groups have repeatedly referred to mandatory face coverings as “child abuse.”
During an anti-vaccine rally outside Los Angeles City Hall on Saturday, a reporter was also physically attacked by a demonstrator. At the same rally, a man was stabbed during a fight between protesters and counter-protesters. The individual was taken to a nearby hospital and was released on Sunday.
The Golden State is likely to remain a tinder box for some time. While vaccinations have increased, anti-vax hardliners are as indignant as ever. Polls reveal vaccinated individuals are becoming increasingly frustrated with the unvaccinated. More jurisdictions are embracing vaccine mandates. And with a gubernatorial recall election just a month away, political provocateurs are out in full force.