Councilmember Inna Vernikov is introducing a resolution to support a state bill that would criminalize wearing masks to conceal identity during assemblies, citing a rise in hate and violence linked to current protests.
The proposed bill aims to prevent individuals from wearing masks during lawful or unlawful assemblies, while still allowing for personal protective equipment during declared public health emergencies, although it faces criticism from civil liberties groups.
Vernikov attributes the increase in violence around protests, largely driven by Israeli-Palestinian tensions, to 'outdated COVID-era mask policies' and points to a similar ban enacted in Nassau County as precedent.
Critics, including the NY Civil Liberties Union, argue that the Nassau County mask ban infringes upon individual rights. The state-level bill offers exemptions for religious face coverings, but the existing health provisions are more restrictive.
Collection
[
|
...
]