Parents sue Gov. Newsom over mask mandate Calif. Gov. Gavin Newsom speaks during a news conference after he toured the newly reopened Ruby Bridges Elementary School on March 16, 2021 in Alameda, Calif. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images) OAN Newsroom UPDATED 5:04 PM PT – Friday, July 23, 2021 A pair of parent advocacy groups have taken legal action against California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) over school mask mandates. On Thursday, the groups Let Them Breathe and Reopen California Schools filed a lawsuit against Newsom and top state health officials. They claimed the orders applying to children wearing masks in schools could have detrimental effects on children’s mental and physical health. Additionally, they said the state is neglecting data, suggesting children have a low risk of contracting COVID-19 and transmitting the virus to others.