Gov. Hochul and Mayor Adams consider a face mask ban.
© David Rodriguez/The Salinas Californian via Imagn Content Services, LLC
(New York, NY) – Jewish leaders are calling on New York City officials to ban protesters from wearing face coverings as anti-Israel demonstrations intensify.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul says individuals using masks to evade prosecution for criminal or threatening behavior won’t be tolerated and that her team is working on a solution. There are reports that could involve reinstating a mask ban that was repealed during the pandemic. She has the support of Mayor Eric Adams. “We understand how complex this issue is, and we’re just listening to people and addressing their needs and taking them very seriously,” Hochul said.
Since the war between Hamas and Israel began in October, there have been hundreds of demonstrations by pro-Palestinian activists in the city, the overwhelming number of them peaceful. Mask-wearing by participants is common, in part because of fears about police surveillance.
New York passed a law banning face masks in public in the 1800s as a response to protests over rent. It was suspended in 2020 by then-Gov. Andrew Cuomo as part of a pandemic public health campaign, and masks were also made mandatory for subway riders until September 2022.
