School board meeting adjourned after speaker refuses to wear mask

Blaine school board president Charles Gibson adjourned this month’s board meeting for an hour as one member of the public refused to wear a mask while speaking during the public comment portion of the meeting. The rest of the meeting was held virtually and public comment was suspended.

Speaker Marilyn Martin was the fourth member of the public to speak and the third that was present at the September 27 meeting, one spoke virtually. She started her allotted three minutes thanking the board for writing a letter to Whatcom County elected officials that voiced the concerns of parents and community members who oppose the statewide mask and vaccination mandates.

“When I read the letter that you sent, I really appreciated that you heard us,” Martin said, letting her mask fall away from her face. “And I’m sorry but I can’t speak with that mask on my face.”

Gibson asked Martin to put her mask back on. “Marilyn, I’ve been told that you have to use the mask,” he said.

Martin refused and dared Gibson to call the police.

“We’re not calling the police,” Gibson replied. “We’ll just adjourn the meeting.”

“You’re going to adjourn the meeting because one person is daring to speak [without a mask] at least six or eight feet away from the closest person? That’s ridiculous,” Martin said. “That’s childish.”

Gibson continued to ask Martin to put her mask on.

Martin continued speaking. “Thank you for doing what you did, and keep it up,” she said, referring to the letter.

“We’re going to adjourn this meeting if you continue,” Gibson said. “Unless you put your mask on.”

“I dare you to,” Martin said.

The 7 p.m. meeting restarted online around 8:15 p.m. At the end of the meeting, the board and superintendent Christopher Granger discussed the incident and whether the board should continue to hold in-person public comment.

Gibson ended the discussion saying the board will continue to take in-person and virtual public comment. “If we have additional difficulties with [the public comment], we’ll recess again,” he said. “But that’s not our desire. We want to hear from people.”