Long Island law could ban face masks, with anyone who flouts rule facing $1,000 fine or jail time

A group of legislators connected Long Island are moving to enact a caller rule that will prohibition look masks - and those who break could look a hefty good aliases imaginable jailhouse time. 

Nassau County Legislator Mazi Pilip projected nan measure aft a concerned national told Pilip she was attacked by a masked demonstrator during a caller Pro-Palestinian protest. The outspoken lawmaker said she wants to unmask those responsible for nan violence.

'Attacking and vandalizing and really hiding down nan state of speech,' nan Great Neck lawmaker told NBC 4 New York.

'Having them covering their faces, reasoning they tin do immoderate they want. This is perfectly unacceptable.'

She sponsored nan authorities that would make it a crime to deterioration a disguise that hides your personality successful public, and nan discourtesy would beryllium punishable of up to $1,000 and imaginable clip down bars. Those exempt are group who deterioration masks for wellness aliases belief reasons.

Twelve Republican legislators successful Nassau County supported nan measure which tin beryllium voted into a rule arsenic soon arsenic adjacent period - which would make Nassau County nan first municipality successful nan tri-state area to prohibition look masks.

During nan tallness of nan COVID-19 pandemic masks were mandatory, but nan lawmaker told NBC 4 New York that criminals are now taking advantage. 

In March, 3 masked thugs attempted to bargain a man's car successful Cedarhurst.

When nan driver refused, he was deed aggregate times but erstwhile he started yelling nan 2 men and 1 women fled, ABC 7 News reported. Fortunately, nan man was not earnestly injured successful nan attack.

New York Governor Kathy Hochul considered placing a disguise prohibition for those taking New York City Transit to thief riders consciousness safer.

UnMask Hate NY held a property convention extracurricular of Columbia University past month  attended by lawmakers, civilian authorities and belief leaders demanding protestors from wearing masks.

Columbia was a hotbed of Pro-Palestinian protests this spring, pinch masked rabble rousers causing havoc and intimidating Jewish students. 

The UnMask Hate run was launched arsenic dislike crimes escalated complete nan past fewer months and to thief protect Jews and marginalized communities who are being terrorized. 

The projected prohibition is besides being discussed connected nan authorities level.

Debra Mule, a Democratic legislator successful Nassau County said she supports nan proposal, but said she 'wants to make judge it doesn't target definite people.'

The New York Civil Liberties Union (NYCLU) raised questions connected really nan measure would beryllium enforced.

'This puts group of colour and protestors that nan authorities disagrees pinch successful its crosshairs,' Susan Gottehrer, nan Nassau County Regional Director of nan NYCLU said successful a statement. 

'People are not wellness professionals and they should not beryllium successful complaint of deciding who needs a disguise and who doesn't.'

Some Long Islanders were confused astir nan projected mandate.

One female asked a section NBC reporter, 'How are they going to separate if personification wearing a disguise has a acold aliases is going to rob a store? 

Another was perplexed and said, 'How could they enforce that? They can't.'