More tyrants are joining calls begging for “amnesty” after they spread misinformation to justify the push to strip the public of basic freedoms during the COVID-19 pandemic.
As Slay News previously reported, billionaire-owned mainstream media outlet The Atlantic provoked widespread outrage by calling for an “amnesty” for the tyrants behind the authoritarian measures during the pandemic.
The outlet is calling for all of the pandemic-era decisions regarding lockdowns, school closures, masking, and vaccine mandates to be simply forgotten and declared water under the bridge.
In an article published Monday, authored by Brown Professor Emily Oster, a huge lockdown proponent, The Atlantic argues that pandemic tyrants should be “forgiven.”
“We need to forgive one another for what we did and said when we were in the dark about COVID,” writes Oster, who is now pleading for mercy from the once-shunned.
“Let’s acknowledge that we made complicated choices in the face of deep uncertainty, and then try to work together to build back and move forward,” she continues.
American Federation of Teachers president Randi Weingarten added to the outrage by voicing her support for The Atlantic’s calls for an “amnesty.”
Weingarten used her influence to ensure schools kept their doors closed to children during the pandemic.
She also forced mask mandates on children despite no scientific evidence to support masking policies.
Her actions led to disastrous consequences for students.
Weingarten retweeted Oster sharing her latest article, saying, “I agree with [Prof. Emily Oster] on this.”
I agree with @ProfEmilyOster on this https://t.co/lXLjxRcj0E
— Randi Weingarten 🇺🇦🇺🇸💪🏿👩🎓 (@rweingarten) October 31, 2022
However, asking for a pardon has fallen on deaf ears for those who suffered the consequences of Weingarten’s previous words and actions — among many others who enacted destructive policies during the pandemic.
Aside from governments forcing businesses to shut down, teacher unions locking up their classrooms, and friends and families becoming divided over wearing masks or how easily the virus would spread — an entire generation of students has been left with academic deficiencies.
The Nation’s Report Card published the 2022 Mathematics and Reading Report Cards for Grades 4 and 8 last week.
The report shows average scores in both subjects and grades for most states — and students’ confidence in their mathematics and reading skills — declined.
According to the report, the average mathematics score for fourth graders fell five points since 2019.
Meanwhile, the score for eighth graders dropped eight points.
In reading, average scores for both grades fell three points.
Peggy G. Carr, the commissioner of the U.S. Department of Education’s National Center for Education Statistics, said the report shows record lows.
“The results show the profound toll on student learning during the pandemic, as the size and scope of the declines are the largest ever in mathematics,” Carr said in a statement.
Fox News reports that the Department of Education published a report in September that showed school closures and online learning contributed to a dramatic decline in test scores.
“Average scores for age 9 students in 2022 declined 5 points in reading and 7 points in mathematics compared to 2020,” the report said.
“This is the largest average score decline in reading since 1990, and the first-ever score decline in mathematics.”
Weingarten tweeted on Friday that her union is “now focused on the urgent need to help kids recover and thrive.”
“The bottom line is everyone suffered in the pandemic […] because of the pandemic,” Weingarten said.
“The disruption was everywhere, and it was bad regardless of whether schools were remote or in person.”
Republican Virginia Lt. Gov. Winsome Sears slammed the union boss Tuesday during an appearance on “Fox & Friends.”
Sears said Weingarten was one of the major proponents of closing schools and that most Democrat governors followed her advice.
“Now they’re saying, ‘oh, you know, just forget about it’,” Sears said.
“No, the problems are existing where our children did not learn.”
Jeremy Redfern, a spokesperson for Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, said, “Randi, of all people, doesn’t get anything resembling ‘amnesty.’”
“Just like the children she wanted to keep out of school don’t get amnesty from their learning loss,” Redfern said.
Randi, of all people, doesn’t get anything resembling “amnesty.”
Just like the children she wanted to keep out of school don’t get amnesty from their learning loss. https://t.co/jq1HJ42e2Z
— Jeremy Redfern (@JeremyRedfernFL) October 31, 2022
Matt Whitlock, a Republican strategist, called Weingarten the “grim reaper of COVID school lockdowns.”
She “won’t admit she did anything wrong,” he added.
I’m dying over this.
The grim reaper of COVID school lockdowns won’t admit she did anything wrong.
NEVERTHELESS she’d like a pandemic amnesty. https://t.co/x85BKBxD8a pic.twitter.com/GfMsyBIJVP
— Matt Whitlock (@mattdizwhitlock) October 31, 2022
