A group of students from Strathmore High School began protesting over the lunch hours as they participated in an Alberta-wide peaceful protest to end COVID-19 restrictions on Friday, February 4.

We spoke to students about why they felt the need to participate.

One student said, “I’m protesting because I think it's child abuse to force our children to wear masks during school. It is already a forced thing to go to school, and I'm also fighting against forced vaccinations because education is a right.”

Another student at the protest said, “I just think that vaccinations and our medical choices should be free and not mandatory. It should be a choice.”

The Alberta-wide walkout occurred at schools across the province today, inspired by a Grade 10 student from Drayton Valley. It asked students to protest outside of their schools with signs and welcomed parents and friends to join the protest to end mask mandates, the REP, and all restrictions.