Critics have slammed the bill as 'a dangerous misuse of the law to score political points and target protesters'
Nassau county in New York has become the first in the United States to enact a controversial mask ban, causing quite a stir. The new law, known as the Mask Transparency Act, makes it a misdemeanour to wear a facial covering in public with the intent of concealing one's identity, and those who violate it could face up to a year in jail and a $1,000 fine.
The act was signed into law by Bruce Blakeman, the Republican county executive and a contentious supporter of Trump. He recently made headlines for his post on X, where he claimed that the "Democrat Party is a hot bed for Jew Hate, pro-criminal policies and anti-Americanism." According to NBC News, Blakeman defended the mask ban as a "bill that protects the public".
However, the law does provide some exemptions for health or religious reasons. Critics have slammed the bill as "a dangerous misuse of the law to score political points and target protesters".Susan Gottehrer, the regional director of the Nassau county New York Civil Liberties Union , voiced her concerns after the bill was passed, stating: "Nassau county's mask ban is a dangerous misuse of the law to score political points and target protesters.
The legislation faced stark criticism with one statement noting, "Masks protect people who express political opinions that are unpopular. Making anonymous protest illegal chills political action and is ripe for selective enforcement, leading to doxing, surveillance and retaliation against protesters."
Nevertheless, the fresh law clarifies, "shall not apply to facial coverings worn to protect the health or safety of the wearer, for religious or cultural purposes, or for the peaceful celebration of a holiday or similar religious or cultural event for which the wearing of masks or facial coverings are customarily worn".
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