Jewish Leaders Call for Reinstitution of New York Mask Mandate

Amid a surge in antisemitic incidents, Jewish community leaders in New York City are pushing for the reinstatement of an anti-mask law to prevent protesters from hiding their identities during hate-driven demonstrations, according to a report by the New York Post.

In response to escalating antisemitic attacks in New York City, Jewish leaders are urging the revival of an anti-mask law previously used to combat the anonymity of the Ku Klux Klan. The uptick in hate crimes against Jews, with incidents in May soaring by 150% as reported by the NYPD, has prompted this call to action.

The urgency was highlighted when masked protesters commandeered a subway train on Monday, demanding passengers they labeled “Zionists” to identify themselves and threatening them to “get out.”

Further exacerbating tensions, demonstrators at Union Square displayed a banner with the message “Long Live October 7.” The recent act of vandalizing Jewish board members’ homes at the Brooklyn Museum with red paint has also added to the unease.

These acts of hatred have instilled fear in the community, with some drawing parallels to the oppressive climate of 1930s Germany. Mark Treyger, head of the Jewish Community Relations Council, has characterized the current situation as a crisis that requires immediate action to protect New York’s Jewish population and all its residents.

“This is a crisis, an emergency. We need a thorough plan to combat the rising tide of antisemitism and protect Jewish New Yorkers and all New Yorkers,” he told the Post.

Scott Richman, the regional director of the Anti-Defamation League, emphasized the historical success of anti-mask laws in undermining the power of the Ku Klux Klan and suggested that it could be crucial in the current situation.

“A mask law will make a difference,” he stated.

NYPD data further underscores the severity of the situation, with 173 antisemitic hate crimes recorded this year compared to 101 in all of 2023.

In response, Assemblyman Michael Reilly, R-Staten Island, has taken steps towards legislative change by proposing a bill to reinstate the mask ban. The focus of the bill is on preventing the anonymity that allows such hatred and violence to go unpunished.

Legal experts, including Matthew Schweber from the Columbia University Jewish Alumni Association, have raised concerns about the First Amendment protection for such masked protests, citing their nature of targeted harassment and incitement of violence.

“These protests are not protected under the First Amendment because they involve targeted harassment and incitement of violence,” he explained.

The original mask ban, which dates back to the 1800s and addressed concerns beyond racial hate groups, was lifted in 2020 during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic when face coverings became necessary for public health. The repeal was supported by figures like New York Attorney General Letitia James and the New York Civil Liberties Union, who feared that the law could be misused against minorities.