Thread by @IAmNickReynolds

Outside of the Capitol for a @SCforEd vigil commemorating student lives lost during the COVID-19 pandemic. Dozens of luminaries on steps.

Was supposed to be a rally aligned with the start of a special legislative session for redistricting today, but was called off by leadership.

The S. Carolina Legislature has passed legislation restricting the use of state money to enforce mask mandates and limits on how many students can learn virtually.

Brenda Murphy, state leader of the NAACP, is speaking now.

"If it was not for you, we would be in more of a crisis than we currently are," she said.

"As long as government is not, speak up for us," she added. Said some teachers are fearful they could lose their jobs.

Said classes are overcrowded, and that we need to empower students to speak up and acknowledge the stresses that have built on teachers, students and their parents.

"Legislators, hear us, we are concerned about our children. [...] we are going to be in your face."

Dr. Ramkumar Jayagopalan, American Association of Pediatricians, says you see more cases of inflamed lungs in kids who had COVID vs. vaccinated. Said vaccines are similar to wearing a seatbelt: won't prevent injury completely, but significantly lowers risks. Says masks work.

If we use all the tools in the toolbox, he said, they can significantly reduce risks from serious infection.

Kristi Schrader, a parent of four students in public school, says her ninth grader has missed two years of normal school he will never get back. Another daughter missed a normal kindergarten, and is having a challenge adjusting to 2nd grade.

"Children are resilient, but they are not unbreakable," she said.

Said many have lost people they love, and lost faith in leaders that were "supposed to protect them."

Asks if life would have returned to normal if leaders supported "common sense" mitigation measures.

Nacala McDaniels, a HS junior, says the government has left her "no choice but to put my life in your hands," but that they have failed to keep them safe.

In the last year, she said she raised her GPA, improved study habits, while the Legislature passed anti-safwty measures.

Says virtual learning is possible. But they need support from legislative leadership. "Virtual learning was supposedly bad for our mental health," she said, and that being in school would give them access to resources they needed.

"Now where are they?" she asked to applause.

"Being asked to choose between my safety and my education is unfair," she said.

"Your action and often inaction flies in the face of every promise you've made" to protect students, she said.

Said that limiting students in online learning at 5% is unfair. "Let us choose what education works best for us. Let parents choose to keep families safe. Let schools choose to protect our students."

"Choose us," she closed.

SC for Ed estimates 61 students have been lost to COVID-19 statewide. Closing the vigil with a moment of silence for those lives lost and laying flowers on the Capitol steps in their memory.

Clarification: students AND staff members, according to an analysis based on media and faculty reports. Source: docs.google.com/spreadsheets/u…