STOP the Nassau County Mask Ban
On Monday, August 5th, the Nassau County Legislature will hear public comment on proposed legislation that effectively bans masks. The bill could mean jail time and $1,000 fines for people who wear face masks.
Nassau County 10th District Legislator Mazi Pilip introduced the legislation to ban the wearing of masks and facial coverings “for the purposes of concealing an individual’s identity in public places”. This ban would take place on public property including outside on sidewalks, streets, and in some cases on private property. Those in violation of the law can face up to a year of jail time and/or fines up to $1,000. The bill language includes exceptions for those wearing masks for health or religious reasons but, in practice, that information is not apparent to law enforcement. History has shown that marginalized community members will be most impacted regardless of the bill language or training. This ban will serve as a pretense for more policing and demonizing an imaginary horde of “illegal immigrants”. All twelve Nassau county republican legislators have supported the passing of this bill.
This legislation is dangerous. This legislation is so vague that it could make wearing scarves, ski masks, and neck warmers illegal to wear in public. This is yet another way that legislators attempt to intimidate, scare, and jail protestors who exercise their right to rally and protest. Any criminalization of masks will also endanger medically vulnerable New Yorkers and discourage public mask-wearing.
This county bill is the first attempt to ban mask-wearing in New York. Governor Hochul recently announced her public support for a mask ban on public transit with zero exceptions for health reasons.
See here for more details on Statewide Mask Bans.
Link to mask ban bill language discussed on July 15. (Note: Nassau County Legislature does not post bills on their website.)
News articles regarding the hearing and the mask ban bill:
