Civil Rights Leaders Launch #UnmaskHateNY Campaign to Combat Rise in Anti-Semitism

Civil Rights Leaders Launch #UnmaskHateNY Campaign to Combat Rise in Anti-Semitism

Edited by: Fern Sidman

In a powerful move likened to historical efforts to dismantle the Ku Klux Klan, national civil rights leaders have initiated the #UnmaskHateNY campaign. According to a report that appeared on Thursday in The New York Post, this initiative seeks to pass legislation that prohibits bigots from using face coverings to conceal their identities while committing acts of harassment and terror against Jews, Black individuals, and other marginalized communities.

The call to action stems from the violent incidents at Charlottesville in 2017 and the Capitol riot on January 6, 2021. Marc Morial, president of the National Urban League, highlighted the importance of unmasking perpetrators to ensure accountability. “Those who carried out the violence at Charlottesville and on Jan. 6 may have felt there would be no repercussions. They were wrong, but only because we saw their faces,” Morial told The Post. He emphasized that masked individuals could commit violence with impunity, potentially escalating their actions. “Had they been masked, not only would they have gotten away with literal murder, but they would have been emboldened to continue and escalate the violence,” he added, as was reported by The Post.

The #UnmaskHateNY coalition aims to raise public awareness and garner support for legislation against “masked intimidation with intent.” The campaign will finance a paid media ad campaign throughout the summer and fall to highlight the necessity of such laws. The Post report said that a spokesperson for the coalition emphasized the urgency of addressing this form of masked harassment and terror.

Jewish leaders have expressed deep concern over the increasing anti-Semitism in New York, with some drawing parallels to the 1930s and the rise of Nazism, The Post report correctly pointed out. Recent incidents underscore the severity of the issue. Vandals recently defaced the home of the Brooklyn Museum director and Jewish board members with red paint. Additionally, The Post reported that homes were marked with a red triangle symbol used by Hamas to denote targets for death. Many of these hate crimes are committed by masked individuals or groups, spreading fear and terror throughout the city, including on the subway.

The use of masks by hate groups is not a new phenomenon. Historically, the Ku Klux Klan used hoods to conceal their identities while committing acts of terror. The efforts to unmask the Klan were pivotal in reducing their ability to operate with impunity. Similarly, the #UnmaskHateNY campaign seeks to strip away the anonymity that emboldens modern-day bigots.

The #UnmaskHateNY campaign represents a critical step in combating hate crimes and ensuring that perpetrators are held accountable. By making it illegal to use masks to hide identities while committing acts of intimidation and terror, the legislation aims to deter such behavior and protect vulnerable communities. The campaign also serves as a reminder of the ongoing struggle against Jew hatred and the importance of vigilance and proactive measures in fostering a safer and more inclusive society.

Jonathan Greenblatt, CEO of the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), highlighted the troubling increase in anti-Semitic incidents. “Anti-Semitic and harassing conduct has erupted on New York streets and campuses of our most elite institutions in recent months,” Greenblatt stated. Speaking to The Post, he emphasized the concerning trend of protestors using masks to hide their identities while engaging in harassment and intimidation. “We have noticed a common, alarming trend. Many of those who are protesting are engaging in harassment and intimidation behind masks to conceal their identities and to terrorize their targets. We say enough is enough,” he declared, according to The Post report. Greenblatt expressed hope that the #UnmaskHateNY campaign would hold perpetrators accountable and enhance community safety.

Hazel Dukes, longtime president of the New York State Conference of the NAACP, drew parallels between the current situation and historical instances of masked intimidation. “Black communities know all too well that individuals who hide their identities with intent to terrorize, intimidate or harass are a threat to all of our safety and have no place in New York,” Dukes remarked, when speaking to The Post. She referenced the menacing presence of the Ku Klux Klan, whose members historically used masks to evade accountability while terrorizing Black Americans. “Reinstating New York’s masking laws will protect New Yorkers from some of the most terrifying periods in our history; when the Klan menaced black Americans, faces covered, without accountability. We can’t let history repeat itself,” she added, as was reported by The Post.

The coalition behind the campaign includes the ADL, NAACP, and other civil rights organizations committed to combating hate and ensuring public safety. Indicated in The Post report was that the coalition plans to finance a paid media ad campaign throughout the summer and fall to raise awareness and garner support for the legislative push.

The coalition will officially announce the mask ban campaign during a press conference on Thursday outside Columbia University. The choice of location is significant, as Columbia has faced its own challenges with antisemitism. According to the information provided in The Post report, a task force investigating antisemitism at the university found a disturbing pattern of bias against Jews, compounded by incidents of anti-Israel vandals taking over a campus building. This backdrop calls attention to the urgency of addressing masked intimidation and harassment in both public and academic settings.

Mark Treyger, CEO of the Jewish Community Relations Council of New York, a key member of the coalition, voiced a strong condemnation of masked harassment. “Dangerous and despicable actions such as intentionally covering your face to go hunting for Jews inside of a NYC subway should not feel the comfort of state law,” Treyger told The Post. His comments reflect the urgency and gravity of the situation, highlighting the fear and danger posed by masked individuals targeting specific communities.

Eric Goldstein, CEO of the United Jewish Appeal-Federation of New York, echoed these sentiments, emphasizing the necessity of the coalition. “Masked intimidation cannot be allowed in our city. This diverse coalition is critical in helping to reduce the escalating and frightening harassment of New Yorkers,” Goldstein said, as was noted in The Post report.

The campaign has garnered significant support from elected officials who are committed to reinstating masking laws. Assembly members Jeff Dinowitz (D-Bronx), Brian Cunningham (D-Brooklyn), and Queens Democrats Nily Rozic and Jennifer Rajkumar, as well as newly designated Manhattan Democratic Assembly nominee Micah Lasher, are expected to attend the press conference, the report in The Post said.  These lawmakers are pivotal in proposing and advocating for legislation that would reimpose a mask ban for protest participants.

Dinowitz, in particular, has been a vocal advocate for this legislative change. He proposed the new legislation after observing the repeal of previous mask bans during the COVID-19 pandemic. According to The Post report, the proposed law would likely include exemptions for individuals with medical issues or those wearing coverings for religious reasons, ensuring that the legislation does not infringe on legitimate uses of masks.

The initiative has also received backing from key state officials. Governor Kathy Hochul and State Attorney General Letitia James have both expressed their support for measures that would prohibit hate-mongers from covering their identities with masks.