Decatur, GA — Gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams has apologized for appearing at Decatur’s Glennwood Elementary maskless during a Black History Month event.

The candidate apologized during a CNN interview.

“Protocols matter, and protecting our kids is the most important thing, and anything that can be perceived as undermining that is a mistake, and I apologize,” Abrams said during an appearance on CNN’s “Erin Burnett OutFront.”

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Abrams initially called the criticism of the incident a “false political attack.”

Pictures of it were recently posted on Twitter by the school’s principal, Holly Brookins. The principal has since deleted her Twitter account.

Have a feeling this photo—which Abrams promoted on her own account—of her appearing maskless surrounded by kids in masks is gonna be in a lot of ads this fall. pic.twitter.com/gYtDOMGTeK

— Alex Thompson (@AlexThomp) February 6, 2022

Masks are required for City Schools of Decatur staff and students. The city of Decatur also has a mask ordinance. Gov. Brian Kemp, who is facing a tough primary fight from former senator David Perdue, pounced on the photos when they began making the rounds on Sunday, Feb. 6. Kemp’s campaign accused Abrams’ of wanting rules for others that don’t apply to her.

“This kind of hypocrisy is exactly why Georgians see her campaign for governor for what it truly is: a quest for more power,” Kemp’s spokesperson told the Atlanta Journal Constitution’s Greg Bluestein. “Gov. Kemp will continue fighting to put students and parents first.”

Abrams told the Atlanta Journal Constitution she only took her mask off for speaking and during photos.

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