The first Dose deadline for the Covid-19 Vaccine was just this friday on October 1st. About 15,000 Department of Education employees including 5,000 teachers refused to get the vaccine. Those 5,000 teachers were put on a list of exiled staff and will not be allowed in the building. As the student of one of those 5,000 teachers hearing the news devastated me.

        A list of all the staff members at my school being replaced was read out loud on the loudspeaker, i didn’t think much of it until i heard my own teacher’s name. Not only was i confused but i was shattered as well. The school year was just beginning and i had already gotten comfortable with my teacher. Despite the fact that my education wasn’t being altered, the connection and bond i created with my teacher was absolutely diminished. The thought that so many other students like me were losing the people that were meant to make school a place to feel safe in distresses me.

        Justice Sotomayar allowed the NYC mandate for all Department of Education employees. This action may be seen as a way to keep NYC schools safe, and although it is, it is also a violation of these teacher’s rights. Most teachers and staff refused to take the vaccine due to religious or medical reasons. However due to the  Vaccine mandate only those with medical issues are exempted from receiving the vaccine. Those  with previous religious exemptions are being let go or required to take a leave of absence until a decision has been made by the supreme court. This is clearly a violation of human rights.

     Every single human being has the basic right to life - the right to live in freedom and safety. The right to make decisions based on their own free will. This mandate not only violated that right but others as well. Everyone is born free in the United States they are allowed their own thoughts and ideas and deserve to be treated equally. This isn’t the case though. Those with religious reasons for rejecting the vaccine are neglected and feel as if their religion and personal beliefs are faulty and irrelevant. Additionally teachers and staff members are not permitted to collect unemployment funds, leaving many without a source of income. They are obviously being discriminated over what they believe and have had their rights and free will taken away.  The Government is meant to serve the people and the events that have taken place clearly contradict this idea. Signing this petition may seem futile, but it really isn’t. It tells legislators that we demand a change. With enough voices and signatures we will be able to convince these legislators to either terminate  the mandate or allow religious exemptions to be permitted and once againThat we demand our basic human rights back.