Nassau County, New York approved a bill making it a misdemeanor to wear masks at protests, punishable by up to a year in jail and a $1,000 fine. The county cited anti-Semitic incidents after October 7, but the New York Civil Liberties Union warns the ban violates free speech and enables selective enforcement.
A New York State county will ban protesters from wearing masks. Now, I don't remember— I don't— I can't say I don't remember. I don't think I ever knew. I knew the details of the law. I knew you can't wear a mask in public in the midst of a crime, right? Isn't it? Wasn't that the issue? So, but there's no crime in protesting. I am completely for banning, banning masks in protests. But if the protest is legal, if you're engaged in a legal activity, how can you ban the mask? I hate saying this because I want the the masks taken off. Now, a lot of the protest activity is in fact illegal, though. A lot of it is trespassing. Everyone who took over a campus— and it'll be interesting to see, will they take over campuses, you know, they resume classes very soon— a Republican-controlled legislature, this is in National Review, in a New York suburban county approved the bill to ban protesters from wearing masks in public spaces, though exceptions are made for people who cover their faces for health or religious reasons. So that's another problem, right? Because people could say, oh, it's a religious reason, or, you know, medical reason. My grandfather, may he rest in peace, died of COVID 3 years ago. And I've been very careful since. Nassau County lawmakers introduced the Mask Transparency Act to target, quote, anti-Semitic incidents often perpetrated by those in masks, unquote, in the wake of Hamas's October 7th attack on Israel. The county is located on Long Island. Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman is expected to sign the bill into law, as he has already expressed support for it. Unless someone has a medical condition or a religious imperative, people should not be allowed to cover their face in a manner that hides their identity when in public. Once it takes effect, the bill will classify mask wearing in the context of a public protest as a misdemeanor. Those who violate the new law can serve up to 1 year in jail, receive a $1,000 fine, or face both punishments. The New York City Civil Liberties Union condemned the mask ban. Claiming it infringes on citizens' free speech rights. Quote, masks protect people who express political opinions that are unpopular, New York's New York Civil Liberties Union's Nassau County Regional Director Susan Gutterer said in a statement. Making anonymous protests illegal Well, they're not making it— oh, anonymous— Priya, they are making anonymous protest legal. That's correct. Chills political action and is ripe for selective enforcement, including to doxing, surveillance, and retaliation against protesters, unquote. For the full episode of The Dennis Prager Show, go to pragertopia.com, sign up, and become a full member.
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