Civil rights leaders rally for law to ban protesters from wearing masks
UPPER WEST SIDE, Manhattan (WABC) -- Civil rights leaders and lawmakers rallied on Thursday to push to reinstate legislation that protects communities against targeting, harassment and terror by those who wear masks.
The group #UnMaskHateNY gathered at Columbia University after New York City has witnessed hate crimes escalate over the last several months.
They are demanding the passage of laws barring protesters from wearing masks.
Assemblymember Jeff Dinowitz says he introduced legislation to two months ago, hopes it will be passed before the start of the legislative session.
"It's not meant to prevent people from wearing COVID masks," said Dinowitz. "It's not meant to infringe on anybody's First Amendment rights. But essentially it will restore the law that we had for so many years which was upheld by the courts."
Since the Israel-Hamas war began, the group says Jewish people have been targeted, harassed and terrorized by individuals who hide their identities with masks and face coverings to act with impunity.
Advocates and lawmakers acknowledged that the current crisis that has targeted Jews in New York and across the country impacts all marginalized communities and is not new.
"This is about ensuring the majority of New Yorkers are not terrorized by KKK tactics," added Anti-Defamation League National Director Jonathan Greenblatt. "That's what these are. These are KKK tactics."
Masked individuals ransacked the U.S. Capitol on Jan 6, 2021 with their faces and heads covered. Masked members of Neo-Nazi groups have also continued to terrorize local communities with their identities obscured in states around the nation.
Gov. Kathy Hochul has said the legislation would need to include exemptions for face coverings used for religious reasons or due to health concerns.
Mayor Adams acknowledged he's open to some form of mask ban.
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