New York Attorney General Letitia James is backing efforts to change the state’s law banning face coverings at protests after a surge in hateful attacks by masked anti-Semites.
In an exclusive statement to The Washington Post, a spokesperson for James said New York’s top prosecutor is “in discussions” with Gov. Kathy Hockal and lawmakers about a move to reinstate New York’s mask ban, which she supported repealing at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, shortly before the George Floyd protests escalated.
“This is a complex legal issue and we are currently discussing this matter with lawmakers,” James’ office said in a statement.
“In New York, no one should be able to hide behind a mask and spew hate.”
While James’ role is purely advisory at this stage in the legislative process, her opinion carries great weight given that she will ultimately be the one responsible for defending such laws in court if they are re-enacted and challenged.
In May 2020, James I wrote a letter She has been a vocal supporter of removing state lawmakers’ more than 200-year-old bans on wearing masks in public, arguing it’s a necessary step to enforce public health orders during the pandemic.
Legislature Voted to repeal the law This comes three days after Floyd’s death at the hands of Minneapolis police officers, sparking protests across the country.
Jewish leaders recently urged lawmakers to reinstate the law, arguing it allows violent anti-Semitic protesters to spew hatred while evading responsibility.
“We will not tolerate mask wearers who may engage in criminal or threatening activity,” Haukl said Thursday, pointing to a shocking incident earlier this week in which masked thugs took over a Manhattan subway car and ordered “Zionists” to “get out.”
Haukl, who has been in discussions with lawmakers since The Washington Post first reported that Jewish leaders had called for reinstating the mask ban, said the talks are focused primarily but not exclusively on subways.
Mayor Eric Adams went a step further, saying in an interview on 77WABC’s “Cats & Cosby” Thursday night, “I stand with those who are calling for the ban to be lifted, not just for protesters who use vulgar language, but for criminal activity as well.”
“Cowards hide their faces, Doctor. [Martin Luther] “King didn’t hide his face,” Adams told hosts John Catsimatidis and Rita Cosby.
“Now is the time to go back to pre-COVID times, where you can’t wear a mask at protests.”
State politicians from both Republican and Democratic parties have begun to warm to the idea of reinstating laws banning face-covering gatherings and imposing 15-day jail sentences for violators.
“Even if it’s just the result of poor polling, I’m pleased to see Democrats at all levels starting to get back to reality when it comes to public safety,” said Rep. Mike Reilly, who is introducing a bill to reinstate the ban and impose tougher penalties on mob assailants who threaten people or destroy property while wearing masks.
“Governor Hockle needs to call us back to Albany immediately to get this done,” Reilly (R-Staten Island) told The Post on Friday, referring to the fact that the state Legislature, which finished its session last week, needs to return to Albany to enact the special measures.
It is unclear how deep the discussions will go, but James will sometimes be involved in policy-making.
She played a key role in crafting landmark legislation earlier this year to give parents more control over how their children interact with addictive social media feeds.
The bill is almost certain to be challenged in court, with James leading the defense.
Haukle made clear that any mask ban would include “significant exceptions” for health concerns and cultural or religious reasons.
“We’re still tweaking it to allow people who are immunocompromised or for religious reasons to continue wearing masks, but otherwise we need to revert to pre-pandemic law,” state Sen. Jim Skoufis (D-Orange County) told The Post on Friday about the bill he sponsors.
The bill that Skoufis is sponsoring with Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz (D-Bronx) is similar to Reilly’s bill, but it largely just reimplementes previous laws.
“Some of the anti-Semitic incidents I’m seeing are similar to what happened to Jews in Nazi Germany before the war,” Dinowitz said.
Both the Bronx politician and Skoufis have said they believe the mask ban should extend beyond the subway rather than just apply to it, with Hawkle saying Thursday that the subway is his “primary focus.”
“I don’t see how the subway is any different than the aboveground,” Dinowitz said.
Haukl, who called the anti-Semitic takeover of a subway car a “despicable and disgusting act,” offered few details about how he planned to move forward on the issue.
Following Gov. Hokell’s sudden repeal of congestion pricing, which was scheduled to take effect on June 30, lawmakers are leaving open the possibility of returning to Albany to take steps to fund the MTA’s capital plan.
But it’s unclear if and when they will do so, or whether mask-wearing laws will be on the agenda.
“We agree that no one should be able to hide behind a mask and spew hate, and we’re excited about a potential solution,” Scott Richman, regional director for the Anti-Defamation League, told The Post on Friday.
A new group, the #UnMaskHateNY Campaign, announced Friday that it had formed to further the effort.
“The tactics of intimidation by those wearing masks date back to the racist brutality of the Ku Klux Klan,” the group said in a statement.
“Today, we have watched in horror as individuals with hidden identities and covered faces terrorized New Yorkers with impunity.”
