NASSAU COUNTY, New York.-A first-in-the-nation ban on wearing face coverings in public was signed into law in Nassau County on Aug. 14.
The bill, passed as a public safety measure with provisions for health and religious reasons, is meant to target those who commit crimes while wearing masks, according to NBC News reporting on the ban.
The mask ban was introduced in response to antisemitic acts that have taken place since the start of the Israel-Hamas war on Oct. 7.
Opponents of the face covering ban argue that it poses a risk for those who want to protest peacefully while remaining anonymous and it could face legal challenges.
According to NBC News, the New York Civil Liberties Union opposes the ban on the fact that masks can protect people whose political views are seen as controversial, while also protecting people’s health.
