Image Credit: youtube 
Disturbing footage showing a child crying as nursery workers try to force him to wear a mask is sparking outrage.
According to the child’s mother, Ann Walker, the incident took place at her son’s daycare center in New York.
“This is my poor kid at daycare today so I can work. #breaksmyheart #governorhochulthiswontwork #whyarewepunishingbabies,” Walker wrote on Facebook last week.
In the video, a young boy repeatedly removes a face mask and cries out in protest as two nursery workers continuously attempt to put the mask back on over his face.
My rage is reaching epic levels. pic.twitter.com/w5SRlnjoPB
— Nate Taylor: Subaru Roof Gardener (@NotNateTaylor) September 18, 2021
The video, which also went viral on Twitter with over 5 million views in two days, also caught the attention of several Republican politicians and conservative commentators, who condemned the cruelty.
This is not science.
It’s political virtue signaling. And really cruel to kids. https://t.co/J9AF3Zf3du
— Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) September 19, 2021
How is this helping children?
IT’S NOT. Please stop the cruelty. https://t.co/2R7YSUSvQQ— Thomas Massie (@RepThomasMassie) September 19, 2021
Child abuse
— ZUBY: New Album Out Now (@ZubyMusic) September 19, 2021
Do not tell me this isn’t child abuse. Forcing a child to do something that has NO benefits and only causes harm is abuse. https://t.co/I4xGmMk1s7
— Allie Beth Stuckey (@conservmillen) September 18, 2021
This is SO WRONG. https://t.co/PVnhAr5zsH
— Megyn Kelly (@megynkelly) September 18, 2021
We’ve decided to abuse toddlers in order to satisfy the neuroses of adults. https://t.co/4JfEwj5Qtq
— Erielle Davidson (@politicalelle) September 19, 2021
Others underscored the fact that the daycare workers kept touching the child’s face and mask during the struggle, completely negating any possible positive health effect of said mask.
She's literally touching all over his face and the mask, negating whatever purpose they think the mask has. "Wear a mask so people don't get sick, but let me constantly touch your face and mask with my hands"
— Silkman (@The_Silk_Man) September 18, 2021
Let alone the germs their hands have on them continuously touching his face to pull it on him.. They probably have to do this to twenty other kids and they get everything from colds, flu, stomach viruses and many many more things.. #masks don’t work…
—
Joanna O
Touch his face more. That’ll help.
— Mosdefnotme, PhD (@bruh_h_h_h_h) September 18, 2021
The incident was also turned into an effective meme spotlighting the hypocrisy between the enforcement of mask rules for the Hollywood elite compared to helpless children.
In an update on Facebook after the video began going viral, Walker clarified she was not upset with her son’s daycare, but rather with New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, who last week issued an order requiring children as young as two to wear face masks while attending state-regulated childcare facilities.
“I’m not upset with his daycare they are attempting to comply with the mandate. I love where he is. I’m pissed out our governor and OCFS who think mandating two- year-old to wear a mask 7-10 hours a day is at all necessary. #unmaskourbabies,” Walker wrote.