In a suburban New York county, the use of masks in public to conceal one’s identity will soon be prohibited.
On Monday, Nassau County lawmakers passed a bill that makes it illegal to wear face masks in public spaces, except for those who cover their faces due to health-related reasons or for religious or cultural practices. Proponents of the bill from the Republican-led Long Island county argue that it would help prevent violent demonstrators from hiding their identities.
The legislation was proposed by Republican District 10 legislator Mazi Pilip, who told Fox News Digital on Tuesday that lawmakers were responding to residents who expressed a strong desire for safety in their neighborhoods.
“Nassau County took the initiative yesterday,” Pilip remarked, noting that Democratic New York Governor Kathy Hochul has been discussing a potential statewide ban since May, but has not yet acted on it.
COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY CONSIDERS GIVING CAMPUS POLICE ARREST AUTHORITY AFTER SCHOOL DISRUPTIONS FROM ANTI-ISRAEL PROTESTS: REPORT
A pro-Palestinian demonstrator conceals their face during a march in Greenwich Village, New York City, on May 3, 2024. Many new political activists prefer not to be photographed by the media at public demonstrations.
“I uphold the right to free speech,” stated Pilip, who previously ran for Congress in a special election this year but was defeated by Rep. Tom Suozzi. “We encourage individuals to participate, to rally, and to voice their concerns. That’s a wonderful aspect of our nation. However, we cannot endorse those who hide their faces while launching attacks or propagating hate speech. Such actions will not be tolerated.”
While mask wearing became standard during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, it has also been recently noted during anti-Israel protests. Legislator Howard Kopel mentioned that the bill was introduced in response to “antisemitic incidents, frequently carried out by masked individuals” since the commencement of the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict on October 7.
Susan Gottehrer, the Nassau County regional director of the New York Civil Liberties Union, defended the right to wear masks during protests.
“Masks serve to protect individuals expressing unpopular political views,” Gottehrer remarked in a statement reported by the Associated Press. “Making anonymity in protests illegal deters civic engagement and opens the door for selective enforcement, potentially leading to doxxing, surveillance, and retaliation against demonstrators.”
FORMER NEW YORK GOV. ANDREW CUOMO TAKES AIM AT ANTI-ISRAEL ACTIVISTS IN NEW TV AD
Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman speaks at a news conference in Mineola, N.Y., on March 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Philip Marcelo, File)
The vote by the Nassau County Legislature on Monday was strictly along party lines, resulting in 12 in favor and seven abstaining, according to FOX 5 New York.
Democratic Legislator Arnold Drucker expressed concerns prior to the vote, stating that the measure “overreaches and could pose a threat to First Amendment rights.”
County Executive Bruce Blakeman countered this position.
“Unless an individual has a medical issue or a religious obligation, covering one’s face in a manner that conceals their identity in public should not be allowed,” Blakeman asserted in a statement reported by FOX 5.
Once Blakeman signs the bill, which is anticipated, wearing a mask in public will become a misdemeanor, punishable by up to one year in jail and a $1,000 fine for those wearing face coverings to conceal their identity in public.
A protester seen with a face mask that serves as a protest symbol. Youth activists from the Youth Climate Finance Alliance and other groups rallied outside JPMorgan’s headquarters in New York during their Annual Shareholder Meeting, urging the bank to heed investor calls to stop funding fossil fuel expansion. (Erik McGregor/LightRocket via Getty Images)
When assessing whether an individual is wearing a mask for criminal or legitimate medical or religious reasons, Nassau County Police Commissioner Patrick Ryder stated that officers would be able to distinguish the difference. He previously mentioned to Newsday, “We aren’t just going to arrest someone for wearing a mask. We will approach the individual to determine the situation.”
During the legislative meeting on Monday, numerous supporters and opponents of the bill expressed their views, leading to the arrest of one disruptive individual, as reported by PIX 11.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams has also backed the idea of a mask ban, stating in June that he endorses measures to reduce crime through such actions.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
“I fully support the decision to ban masks in our subway system and at protests, as well as in other contexts not related to health,” Adams affirmed.
“Masks are not a new phenomenon; hiding one’s face while committing wrongful acts is not novel,” he continued. “There were historical instances of individuals hiding their identities, such as those who used to wear hoods in the South. Cowards conceal their faces.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
