West Cook News

Students at Lyons Township High School in Western Springs organized an anti-mask protest on Friday, Sept. 25.

Dozens of students joined together in an open space on the campus grounds without masks.

Four students were detained and removed from the school for the day after the act of civil disobedience.

One of those was Lindsay Dillon's 15-year-old daughter, who is a sophomore.

“I fully support the kids, 110%,” Dillon told West Cook News.

Assistant Principal Kelly Dostal kicked the students out of school, Dillon said.

Dillon was part of a simultaneous protest outside the school.

“The parents are angry. We're all angry,” Dillon said.

The anti-mask protest was set up anonymously. Student activists posted flyers across campus with a notice that a protest would be occurring and to contact an email address set up just for the event where participants could receive a date, time and place for the event.

The flyer included an email from Dr. Anthony Fauci, chief medical adviser to the President.

“The typical mask you buy at the drugstore is not really effective in keeping out the virus, which is small enough to pass through the material,” Fauci said in the email dated Feb. 2, 2020.

The group posted the email with the header “MASK FREE PROTEST.”

“I do not recommend you wear a mask,” Fauci further said in the email.

Dillon said the event quickly took off after students began noticing the flyers and social media picked up the protest.

Dillon said after the protest the Lyons Township High School administration made an announcement on the loudspeaker.

“There was an announcement on their loudspeaker to all the kids," she said. “No parents were notified of this announcement. It was done during school. And it ... said that if ... anybody is refusing to wear the mask correctly, that there will be disciplinary action.”

Dillon said Friday’s protest is just the beginning.

“The kids are planning more of these protests,” she said.

Dillon said notable politicians and parents from outside the district have reached out to offer support for the student group.

State Sen. Darren Bailey (R-Xenia) -- a GOP candidate for governor -- is expected to visit the school in support of the anti-mask protesters. Myriad other local officials and candidates have also offered support and suggested they will show up at future protests.