Long Island parents marched to Massapequa Park to make their voices heard demanding that masks be optional in schools.

“I’m not fighting masks,” says one parent. “I’m fighting for choice.”

Last week, Gov. Hochul announced the mask mandate in schools saying, “I’m also directing the Department of Health to institute masking for anyone entering our schools.”

Several school districts, including Massapequa, had told parents that schools would be “mask-optional”.

Kim Stahl-Boyette from North Merrick tells News 12 the decision should be left to parents.

“You might be for masks, but one day you might be pushing for something else,” says Stahl-Boyette. “We need to stop them from removing our rights for our children”.

Pediatrician and East Meadow School District doctor, Dr John Zaso, says masking up in school is necessary.

“Until we can reach mass immunizations, it's the best option to control this,” says Dr. Zaso.

Joe Files, from Huntington, says he’s okay with his daughter, Janita, to wear a mask in school.