Vernikov pushes state legislature to pass anti-masking bill in light of hate speech at rallies and protests

August 15, 2024 Brooklyn Eagle Staff

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CITY HALL — A resolution to support the state legislature’s bill on wearing masks in public is being introduced in NY City Council on Thursday, Aug. 15. Councilmember Inna Vernikov (R-48) was scheduled as of press time to introduce the bipartisan Unmask the Hate resolution, calling upon the New York State Legislature to pass and the Governor to sign S.9867/A.10057 (Skoufis/Dinowitz). That bill would criminalize the concealing of identity (facial features) while participating in a lawful or unlawful assembly or riot. Vernikov blames what she calls “outdated COVID-era mask policies on an uptick in hate and violence, particularly involving protests over the 10-month old Israel-Hamas war following the Oct. 7, 2023, attack by Hamas.”

Vernikov also pointed to a ban recently enacted in Nassau County. The Assembly version of the bill reads, “It shall be unlawful for any person or persons, involved in a lawful assembly, unlawful assembly, or riot, to wear a hood, mask, or device whereby the person or the person’s face is disguised so as to conceal the identity of the wearer. This section shall not apply to any person or persons wearing personal protective equipment for the purpose of ensuring the physical health or safety of the wearer or others during a declared public health emergency, nor shall it apply to any person or persons wearing attire that conceals their identity if the attire is worn for religious observance or customs.”

The state-level bill exempts religious face coverings in general, but the health provision mentions only “during a declared public health emergency.” The NY Civil Liberties Union has already denounced the Nassau County mask ban on the grounds that it violates people’s rights.

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