Broken Arrow City Council Hears Arguments Over Mask Mandate

Several hundred people are asking the Broken Arrow City Council to mandate masks, but hundreds more packed the council chambers Tuesday night to urge against it.

Tuesday, January 5th 2021, 9:40 pm

By: Grant Stephens

BROKEN ARROW, Okla. -

Several hundred people are asking the Broken Arrow City Council to mandate masks, but dozens more packed the council chambers Tuesday night to urge against it.

More than 200 people signed a letter to the Broken Arrow City Council, saying the current lack of policy fails to protect the people there. .

However, nearly everyone who spoke at the meeting Tuesday night was against the mandate.

Several people who spoke say they believe mandating wearing a mask is a step too far and that the local government should respect personal freedoms.

Broken Arrow Mayor Craig Thurmond echoed that thought.

"I think as citizens and as people we have that responsibility to take care of ourselves and take care of those we care about and I don't think that we need a law to do that," Thurmond said.

A vote on the issue was never on the agenda for Tuesday night and the council took no action.