Nassau GOP proposes mask ban for protestors

                                                                                       

Masked Anti-Israel protestors occupy Columbia University building in April (from the Forward)

Remember several years ago when you were scolded and shunned if you didn't wear a mask in public? Now, you could be fined as much as $1,000 and jailed if you do. 

The 12-member Republican majority on the Nassau legislature has submitted a bill banning the wearing of masks or other face coverings in public except for medical, religious or "celebratory" purposes (presumably referring to Halloween.)

The Nassau Republicans are following the example of several Albany Democrats, civil rights groups and Jewish organizations who have proposed mask bans after dozens of mostly in Pro-Palestine, anti-Israel rallies erupted across the state after the Oct. 7 massacre of 1,200 Jewish civilians by Hamas terrorists.

Most of the protestors hid their identities by wearing masks or keffiyehs, which are traditional Arab and Palestinian scarves.

Masks also help disguise retail looters and other thieves.

New York had banned facial coverings since the mid-1800s because of such concerns: the most notable affected group was the Klu Klux Klan. But the state legislature repealed the ban in 2020 at the start of the coronavirus pandemic when it was hoped that wearing masks would prevent the virus from spreading.

Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul has supported a mask ban on the NYC subways as has New York City Mayor Eric Adams.

After masked anti-israel protestors ransacked HamiltonHall at Columbia University, NYC prosecutor Alvin Bragg dropped most charges against them in part because of the difficulty in identifying them.

Just yesterday, Algemeiner reported that masked anti-Israel activists allegedly violently attacked Jews at a North Carolina Public Library during a rally that celebrated the Oct. 7 Hamas massacre.

The Nassau bill says, "This legislature finds that mask and facial covering that are not worn for legitimate health and safety concerns or for religious or celebratory purposes are often used as a predicate to harassing, menacing or criminal behavior.

"Therefore, the primary purpose of this law is to prohibit the wearing of masks or other facial covering in public unless such mask is worn for the purpose of protecting the wearer's health or safety or for religious or celebratory purposes."

The ban would apply to people 16 years and older wearing masks on public property, including streets and sidewalks.

It is expected the bill will be considered at the legislature's next committee meetings on July 15.