Woman accused of threatening school board over wearing masks

The importance of the third dose and the use of masks compared to the omicron variant 2:56

(CNN) --

Police in Virginia said a woman was charged after she told a school board meeting that she would show up with loaded guns if her children had to wear masks to school.

In the post on the police department's Facebook page, authorities said Amelia King, 42, of Luray, was charged with making an oral threat while on school property Friday afternoon.

The supreme judge released her on $5,000 unsecured bail.

The board had been discussing COVID-19 mitigation measures as the wave of omicron continues to cause significant community transmission and in light of an executive order by new Republican Governor Glenn Youngkin.

• Minute by minute: the latest news about the coronavirus and the omicron variant

On Jan. 15, his first day in office, Youngkin issued an executive order that said parents could decide whether their children should wear masks to school.

advertising

During the public comment section of the meeting, a response from one of the four Page County residents who spoke turned confrontational.

"My children will not come to school on Monday with a mask on," King told the school board.

"Okay? That's not going to happen. And I'll get every gun loaded and ready to... I'll call every..."

King was then interrupted for going over the three-minute time limit, with her replying, "I'll see you all on Monday."

In response to the comments, the Page County school superintendent and school board president released a statement saying they would not take the comments lightly.

"Comments like these not only go against everything we wish to model for our students, they go against the very nature of how we as a community should interact with each other," the statement read.

"This type of behavior is not tolerated by our students, faculty, staff, nor will it be tolerated by parents or guests of our school division."

As a result of the comments, the school board said it would increase police presence in schools on Friday and Monday.

"Luray Police Chief Bo Cook is investigating the incident and is in communication with the Commonwealth's Attorney, as well as state and federal officials," the statement said.

Stop wearing a cloth mask, JHU expert recommends 0:58

In an email to the school board, read aloud at the end of the meeting, King apologized and said she was "mortified."

“In no way did I mean to imply that all weapons are loaded like real firearms, but all the resources I can muster to make sure my children attend school without masks,” he allegedly said in the email.

"I would never do such a thing; I was speaking figuratively."

King, in the email, said he contacted the sheriff's office to explain himself.

CNN reached out to King for comment but did not immediately receive a response.

During his speech, King noted that he had previously spoken at school board meetings and comments were not prepared.

"I like to sound polite and when I get off my sleeve, I get really passionate," she said.

"I can't always say exactly what I want to say in the right way."

CNN also reached out to Luray police, the Page County Commonwealth's Attorney and Gov. Youngkin's office for comment, but did not immediately hear back.

The school board ultimately decided in a 4-2 vote to "make mask wearing the parent's choice."

Masks would be required for all staff and anyone on school buses.

However, parents will need to sign an "opt-out form" if they don't want their children to wear masks at school.

The school board will still require students returning from quarantine to wear masks, regardless of parental choice.

coronavirusCovid-19masks