Attorney General Alan Wilson says the City of Columbia’s school mask mandate violates the law

COLUMBIA, SC (WOLO)– In a statement sent out Tuesday, South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson says the school mask mandate passed last week by the Columbia City Council goes against state law.

Last week, Mayor Steve Benjamin and the Columbia City Council approved a mask mandate for all middle and elementary schools in the city. In a letter to the city, Wilson writes, “It is the opinion of my office that these ordinances are in conflict with state law and should either be rescinded or amended. Otherwise, the city will be subject to appropriate legal actions to enjoin their enforcement,” Attorney General Wilson wrote to council members. “While we appreciate the efforts of city leaders around the state to protect their populace from the spread of the COVID-19 virus and variants of it, these efforts must conform to state law,” Attorney General Wilson wrote.

The letter concludes by giving the city until close of business Friday to notify the attorney general’s office how it plans to proceed.

Click here to read Wilson’s full letter to city council.