State legislators and law enforcement are reinstating laws that criminalize mask-wearing to target pro-Palestinian protesters, sparking concerns among Americans still cautious about COVID-19. Republican lawmakers in North Carolina aim to overturn Gov. Roy Cooper’s veto of anti-masking legislation. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul supports banning masks on subways after masked protesters shouted anti-Zionist slogans. Student protesters in Ohio, Texas, and Florida face arrest threats for masking.
Decades-old anti-masking laws, originally targeting the Ku Klux Klan, exist in at least 18 states and D.C. Some states created health exemptions during the pandemic, but COVID-19 is no longer a public health emergency. Immunocompromised Americans and civil libertarians criticize the revival of these bans, fearing increased harassment and selective enforcement against protesters.
GOP lawmakers argue that these laws won’t target medically vulnerable people. Critics, however, foresee practical issues in distinguishing health-related mask-wearing from protest concealment. Recent incidents, like Shari Stuart being harassed for wearing a mask despite having cancer, highlight potential problems.
Opponents, including civil rights groups, argue the bans could disproportionately affect people of color. Supporters claim they address crime and antisemitism, but concerns about public safety and personal health remain.
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