In recent days, there have been protests against anti-Semitism in New York City, with many of the anti-Semitic individuals hiding their faces with scarves even during demonstrations. Some Jewish lawmakers have proposed that New York State should continue to ban wearing masks and face coverings to prevent hate from hiding. The governor responded to this in the media on Wednesday, mentioning the consideration of reinstating the pre-pandemic ban on face coverings to prevent hate crimes, but no specific timetable for amending relevant laws has been set.
Governor Hochu stated that it is still uncertain whether there is a need to restore the ban on face coverings and that discussions will take place in the coming months with the mayor, police department, district attorneys, and legislative bodies to find suitable solutions to prevent hate crimes and assist law enforcement. At present, there is no schedule for amending the laws. Regarding recent incidents of masked passengers threatening Jewish individuals, the governor mentioned collaborating with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) to explore banning face coverings in certain areas.
According to the governor’s official website, Governor Hochu recently informed the media that prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, New York State had a 200-year-old ban on masks that were considered pointless, except for masks worn by the elderly or patients. However, this ban was lifted during the pandemic.
Given that many anti-Semitic protesters in New York City are seen wearing black and white scarves symbolizing Palestine during demonstrations, Assemblyman Michael Reilly of Staten Island proposed a reintroduction of the mask ban last month.
On Wednesday, the governor mentioned the concerns of individuals wearing such face coverings while riding the subway, not knowing whether they might be carrying weapons or intending to commit crimes.
Referring to an incident this week where a group of protesters occupied a subway car in New York City, each masked individual demanded that “Jewish nationalists” raise their hands, saying, “This is your chance to leave.”
The governor declared, “This is absolutely unacceptable in New York State. I will definitely look into this (mask ban), see if it can be reinstated because this is too alarming.”
Assemblyman Reilly likened these masked individuals to the Ku Klux Klan, stating, “They are a large group of thugs wearing masks to intimidate and incite. Doesn’t that sound like the Klan?”
On the same day, a group of anti-Semitic protesters gathered to commemorate the Hamas terrorist attack against Jews on October 7 last year, chanting slogans like “Long live October 7th” and “I wish Hitler was here to eliminate all of you.”
On Wednesday, the director and board member of a Jewish museum in Brooklyn had their residence vandalized with red paint.
Mark Treyger, Chair of the Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC), expressed, “We are witnessing a Nazi scene playing out in 2024.”
Another Ukrainian Jewish councilwoman, Inna Vernikov, asked, “What’s next? Will we see Jews being killed on the streets?”
Some officials and organizations such as New York State Attorney General Letitia James and the New York Civil Liberties Union support the abolition of the mask ban, citing health officials’ advice on wearing masks to prevent the coronavirus.