Written by Michael Palomba
Lawyers have filed a lawsuit against Gov. Newsom, the state Department of Public Health, San Diego County, and its public health officer, Dr. Wilma Wooten on behalf of two high school students.
Nicholas Gardinera, a senior at Scripps Ranch High School, and Cameron Woolsey, a senior at Mission Hills High School argue that millions of students in California have been barred from participating in athletic activities despite a lack of medical evidence to justify the restrictions.
In the suit filed on Thursday, lawyers claim that 47 states have allowed high school sports to resume and “plaintiffs know of no evidence that allowing high school sports has led to an increase in COVID-19 transmission or hospitalization in any of those 47 states.”
The suit alleges that public health officials are arbitrarily allowing some sectors to operate, while unfairly prohibiting others, and points out multiple examples such as the fact that the San Diego Padres have been able to play and that San Diego State University’s men’s and women’s basketball seasons are currently underway.
“If a sport is safe for college students to play when following certain protocols, it is no less safe were high school student athletes to follow these same protocols,” the lawsuit states.
The lawsuit goes on to say that the restrictions on youth athletics have contributed to increased dropout rates, falling grades, depression, and suicidal thoughts.
On Friday, San Diego DA Summer Stephan joined a coalition of youth athletics coaches in a virtual news conference calling on the governor’s office to allow youth sports to resume.
“We cannot keep talking as a civilization about kids being our future, and then not giving them every chance that they deserve to have that future in a responsible manner,” she said.
Torrey Pines High School head football coach Ron Gladnick also spoke during the news conference, saying, “Three million kids in California deserve a greater sense of urgency then they’re being given by our government right now.”
