LATHAM, NY (NEWS10) – For teachers who have not received the COVID vaccine, they feel like they are placed in a difficult position to choose their livelihood or personal and / or religious beliefs. Organizers of Wednesday’s rally said it aimed to send a signal that unvaccinated educators should not be punished for their choice.

Vicki Savini, an elementary school teacher, says that for religious reasons she did not receive her vaccine. Or any other vaccine for that matter. Currently, teachers are not required to be vaccinated in New York State. Savini fears they are.

“The reason we fight this is because none of us believe that we should be told what to do with our body and we don’t think we should tell people what to do with it. their children’s bodies, ”says Savini.

At the rally, some held placards denouncing not only vaccines but also weekly COVID testing, which is required for any unvaccinated educator and is supported by the New York State United Teachers, whose parking lot took place the rally.

Savini believes the union is not listening to unvaccinated teachers. “I’m not really sure the union has any idea what’s going on. As unvaccinated teachers, you should test weekly. So we are actually treated as if we are second class citizens or walking around sick. “

A spokesperson for NYSUT said the rally was not an event organized by the union. Regarding testing for teachers, the union says “we support state policy requiring regular COVID testing for staff who are not yet vaccinated.”

The union also says it continues to advocate that any teacher who wants a vaccine can get one. What they don’t support is a vaccination mandate for students and educators.