Parents in Dutchess County rallied Monday night to demand that their children be mask-free in school.

Families from within the Arlington, Wappingers and other school districts gathered near Arlington High School in favor of kids not having to wear masks in school anymore.

They said despite the fact that there's only about a week left of the school year, they have to push back against mask wearing now because they're worried about what's next in the fall.

They said that their main concern is that masks will still be a reality in their children's school come September and that there might be mandatory vaccinations. The families say they believe parents should decide if their child is masked in school.

When asked if they were hopeful knowing that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will be releasing new guidance in several weeks, they said no and that they don't trust that the CDC is making decisions with safety and science at the forefront.

Some of the people at the rally said they don't want to get vaccinated against COVID-19 and they don't believe masks protect people as scientists suggest.

"I don't trust one thing I hear from Washington, from the federal government or from the state government so if they say two more weeks, I'm not buying it and I don't think any of these people are buying it," says parent Jim Rhoda.

While new COVID-19 cases are low in New York, the American Academy of Pediatrics does say that children accounted for 19% of new COVID-19 cases nationwide last week and still recommends unvaccinated children wear masks.