In a suburban New York county, it will soon be illegal to wear a mask in public to conceal your identity.
Nassau County lawmakers on Monday approved a bill that would make it a crime to wear a mask in public, with exceptions for people who cover their face for health, religious or cultural reasons. Supporters of the bill in the Republican-majority Long Island county say it would prevent violent protesters from hiding their identities.
The bill was introduced by Republican 10th District Rep. Mazie Pilipu, who told Fox News Digital in a phone interview Tuesday that lawmakers “heard loud and clear” residents’ desire to feel safe in their communities.
“Nassau County took the lead yesterday,” Pilip said, noting that New York’s Democratic governor, Kathy Hockle, has been talking about a similar statewide ban since May but has yet to act.
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A pro-Palestine protester covers his face during a march in Greenwich Village, New York City, May 3, 2024. Refusing to be photographed by the media in public during peaceful demonstrations is common among a new generation of political activists.
“I respect freedom of speech,” said Pilip, who ran for Congress in a special election earlier this year but lost to Rep. Tom Suozzi. “We encourage people to come together, rally, and voice their concerns. That’s what’s great about this country. But [are] “They hide their faces and attack others, spread hate speech and encourage others to do the same. We will not tolerate that.”
Mask-wearing has become commonplace during the COVID-19 pandemic but has also been seen recently at anti-Israel protests. Rep. Howard Kopel said the measure was introduced in response to “anti-Semitic incidents, frequently instigated by mask wearers,” since Israel’s ongoing war with Hamas began on October 7.
Susan Gottehrer, Nassau County regional director for the New York Civil Liberties Union, defended wearing masks during protests.
“Masks protect people from expressing unpopular political views,” Gottehrer said in a statement reported by The Associated Press. “Making it illegal to protest anonymously has the potential to chill political activity and encourage selective enforcement, which could lead to identity theft, surveillance and retaliation against protesters.”
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Nassau County Mayor Bruce Blakeman speaks during a press conference on Wednesday, March 6, 2024, in Mineola, New York. (AP Photo/Philippe Marcelo, File)
The Nassau County Council voted along party lines on Monday, with 12 members in favor and seven abstaining. FOX 5 New York reported..
Democratic Rep. Arnold Drucker said before the vote that the bill “oversteps the line and could undermine First Amendment rights.”
County Commissioner Bruce Blakeman disagreed.
“Unless you have a medical concern or religious obligation, you should not be allowed to cover your face in a way that conceals your identity in public,” Blakeman said in a statement reported by FOX 5.
Governor Blakeman is expected to sign the bill, which will make wearing a face covering to conceal one’s identity in public a misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in jail and a $1,000 fine.
Participants are wearing face masks as a sign of protest.Youth activists from the Youth Climate Finance Alliance and other youth groups, as well as adults from various New York City-based climate and climate justice groups, rallied outside JPMorgan headquarters in New York during its annual shareholder meeting to pressure the bank to listen to investors who will vote in favor of a proposed resolution to stop funding fossil fuel expansion. (Eric McGregor/LightRocket via Getty Images)
When it comes to determining whether someone is wearing a mask for criminal, medical or religious purposes, Nassau County Police Chief Patrick Ryder said his officers can tell the difference. He previously said: Quoted in Newsday “We’re not just going to arrest someone for wearing a mask. We’re going to go to that person, talk to them and find out,” he said.
Dozens of speakers for and against the bill gathered at the parliament on Monday, where one woman was arrested for causing a disturbance. PIX 11 reported.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams has also supported the idea of a mask ban, saying in June he supported using such measures to curb crime.
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“I strongly support the decision to ban mask wearing on the subway, to ban mask wearing at protests and in other non-health related settings,” Adams said.
“Masks are nothing new, and hiding your face while doing nasty things is nothing new,” he added. “We had guys running around with their hoods up in the back South, so that’s why cowards hide their faces.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
