Grandmother arrested after not wearing face mask at school board meeting: 'You're not enforcing laws'

Kate Bossi, a grandmother and Sunday school teacher from New Hampshire, was arrested on Thursday after refusing to wear a face mask at a school board meeting.

What happened?

Just moments after Bossi arrived at the Timberlane Regional School Board meeting to demand that children no longer be required to wear face masks in school, police arrested Bossi for refusing to wear a face mask.

Video of the incident shows police officers forcibly arrest Bossi after she entered an auditorium without wearing a mask.

"You are violating my rights right now. You are remiss," Bossi said.

Another man shouted, "Come on Sgt. Porter, you know this is wrong what they're doing to our kids," according to the New Hampshire Union Leader.

Jackie Wydola, the daughter of Bossi, also told officers, "Are you seriously doing this you guys. This is law enforcement. You're not enforcing laws, you're enforcing policy. That doesn't matter."

The meeting was planned to be held in-person, but was ultimately held remotely. "I didn't want to jeopardize the health of the staff and the students," school board chairwoman Kimberly Farah told the Union Leader, referring to maskless people.

Bossi was charged with disorderly conduct, according to her daughter.

What did Bossi say?

The grandmother told the Union Leader police announced her arrest immediately as she attempted to enter the meeting.

"I kept walking into the theater, and he goes, 'You're arrested,'" Bossi told WBZ-TV. "And I said, 'No, I'm taking my seat.'"

Bossi has several grandchildren who attend schools in the Timberlane Regional School District and has concerns over children being forced to wear face masks.

"When you say, 'Just wear the mask', you clearly have no understanding of early childhood development, and these are educators," she explained.

Anything else?

It's not exactly clear what prompted Bossi's arrest other than her entering an area that required face masks. According to WBZ, Bossi believes that she may have been arrested illegally.

The New Hampshire Department of Public Health Services, meanwhile, only recommends students wear face masks inside schools. The agency does not require they wear them.

"NH DPHS continues to recommend schools and childcare agencies implement face mask use whenever possible (for students/children, visitors, volunteers, staff, etc.), including outdoors in group settings. Face masks are strongly recommended indoors, especially if students are seated within 6 feet of each other," the state agency said in recently updated guidance. "Whether or not face masks are required in schools has always been left to local school district/board policy."