Group says it plans to sue Gov. Whitmer, Detroit schools over vaccine mandate, masking, COVID testing

Group By Any Means Necessary also demanding schools reinstate remote teaching options

DETROIT – Protest group By Any Means Necessary (BAMN) announced that it plans to sue Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s administration and Detroit Public Schools Community District (DPSCD), demanding that the state follow California and implement vaccine requirements in schools.

The group is demanding:

  • Mandatory vaccinations for students, staff, contractors
  • Mandatory masking in all schools
  • Mandatory COVID-19 testing in all schools
  • Reinstatement of remote teaching options

Read: Michigan reports 100+ new COVID outbreaks in schools: Latest data

The group said the schools are not safe with COVID cases mounting.

Local 4 asked Whitmer for a response to rising COVID numbers in the state. Her response was no mandates and to get vaccinated.

“Whether it’s a school district with a mask policy or it’s a community that has a high vaccination rate, it inures to the benefit of everyone’s individual health as well as the collective economy and the collective health. That’s why I think it’s so important to continue to educate and let people know these vaccines work,” she said.

There was no comment yet from DPSCD because the lawsuit has yet to be filed. BAMN said the lawsuit is to be filed in the next two weeks or so.

The group previously filed a lawsuit against Detroit schools to stop in-person summer school in 2020. However, the judge ruled that face-to-face summer school could continue and students attending those classes needed to have COVID tests.

Read: Data shows Michigan schools without mask mandates saw 62% more coronavirus spread


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About the Author:

Local 4 Defender Shawn Ley is an Emmy award-winning journalist who has been with Local 4 News for more than a decade.