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NYC Councilwoman Inna Vernikov Introduces Resolution in Support of Statewide Mask Ban
Edited by: TJVNews.com
At the New York City Council meeting on Thursday, Councilwoman Inna Vernikov introduced the Unmask the Hate resolution, calling upon on the New York State Legislature to pass and the Governor to sign S.9867/A.10057 (Skoufis/Dinowitz), which would make it UNLAWFUL for one to conceal their identity while participating in a lawful or unlawful assembly or riot. Criminals and bad actors have taken advantage of outdated COVID-era mask policies to protect themselves while participating in hateful acts and causing violence on the streets of New York City, especially in the wake of the October 7th attacks on the state of Israel that caused an explosion of anti-American & antisemitic protests and riots. Similar laws were passed around the country in the 1950s to combat the rise of the Klu Klux Klan, and more recently a ban was made law in Nassau County – just outside of New York City – with great success.
“We’re facing an intense uptick in criminality coupled with anti-American and antisemitic hatred in New York City, and these sick individuals are emboldened by their anonymity to the point of openly spewing hatred and acting violently without worry of any consequences. We can no longer afford to allow those engaging in this behavior to protect themselves behind masks and face coverings,” said Councilwoman Inna Vernikov. “At every level of government, we should be doing everything we can to assist law enforcement in catching criminals. This legislation is bipartisan in nature, and I strongly urge my City Council colleagues – particularly those with Jewish constituencies who are feeling unheard and fearful – to pass this resolution and to strongly support the statewide legislation. We have to bring safety back to our streets. Unmask the Criminals – Unmask the Hate!”
🚨🚫😷 TODAY – I am introducing the UNMASK THE HATE Resolution in the City Council, which will call upon on the New York State Legislature to pass and the Governor to sign S.9867/A.10057 (Skoufis/Dinowitz) to make it UNLAWFUL for the protestors and rioters to conceal their… pic.twitter.com/eSScJAVMdE
— Councilwoman Inna Vernikov (@InnaVernikov) August 15, 2024
On Wednesday, Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, a Republican, signed legislation to enact a ban on masks calling it a “bill that protects the public,” as was reported by the Associated Press.
The county’s Republican-controlled Legislature approved the ban on face coverings on Aug. 5. Legislator Howard Kopel said lawmakers were responding to “antisemitic incidents, often perpetrated by those in masks” since the Oct. 7 start of the Israel-Hamas war.
The law makes it a misdemeanor punishable by up to a year in jail and a $1,000 fine for anyone in Nassau to wear a face covering to hide their identity in public. The AP report indicated that it exempts people who wear masks “for health, safety, religious or cultural purposes, or for the peaceful celebration of a holiday or similar religious or cultural event for which masks or facial coverings are customarily worn.”
Blakeman said that while mask-wearing campus protesters were the impetus for the ban, he sees the new law as a tool to fight everyday crime as well.
“This is a broad public safety measure,” Blakeman said at a news conference on Wednesday. “What we’ve seen is people using masks to shoplift, to carjack, to rob banks, and this is activity we want to stop.”
The AP also reported that advocates for people with disabilities called on Blakeman to hold off implementing the law, arguing it would overwhelmingly target people who rely on masks to manage their disabilities so they can fully participate in community life without risk to their health.
“We are giving Nassau County an opportunity to reverse its course here to avoid any unnecessary legal actions,” Timothy Clune, executive director of Disability Rights New York, said in a statement. “There are plenty of laws on the books that address criminal behavior. What’s next – banning sunglasses and hats?”
