Catholic school parents sue DC mayor over COVID masks in school after failed request to lift mandate

Catholic school parents in Washington, D.C., filed suit Tuesday against Mayor Muriel Bowser for continuing to require COVID-19 masks at their children’s school while lifting the mandate for most other activities in the city.

The families are being represented by attorney from the Alliance Defending Freedom.

The lawsuit comes after ADF attorneys sent a letter March 1 to the director of the D.C. Department of Health requesting that the mayor, a Democrat, and department officials lift the mandate for children, staff and teachers at religious schools.

The plaintiffs and their attorney point out Bowser lifted the mandate Feb. 14 for "bars and restaurants, concert halls and sports venues attended by thousands of people, strip clubs, shopping centers, gyms, and other businesses, but left the mandate in place for school children in the district," according to an ADF press release.