NYCLU Condemns Nassau County Mask Ban

NASSAU COUNTY – Today the Nassau County Legislature passed a mask ban that criminalizes the wearing of face coverings in public spaces, with minimal exceptions for health and religious purposes. People found in violation of the law can face up to a year of jail time as well as a $1,000 dollar fine. Across the country, mask bans have been recently used to target pro-Palestine protestors.

In response, the New York Civil Liberties Union issued the following statement, attributable to Susan Gottehrer, Nassau County Regional Director of the NYCLU:

“Nassau County’s mask ban is a dangerous misuse of the law to score political points and target protestors. Barring people who speak out from protecting themselves and their identities puts their health and well-being in danger, particularly people with disabilities, people of color, and those with unpopular views.

“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 doxxing, surveillance, and retaliation against protesters.

“Banning face masks also puts Nassau County residents’ health at risk. With COVID-19 on the rise across Long Island, face coverings are critical to protecting the health of an individual, their family, and their community. Criminalizing masks forces those with disabilities or medical conditions, as well as their families and loved ones, to have to decide whether to segregate themselves from public life or endanger their health and even lives. The ban’s so-called health and religious exceptions are entirely inadequate: Nassau County police officers are not health professionals or religious experts capable of deciding who needs a mask and who doesn’t.

“Concerns that masks disguise criminal activity must not be answered by banning anonymous protest. Police should respond to a person’s actions, not their attire.

“No Long Islander should be sent to jail for trying to protect themself or their community.”