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But talks of a mask ban stem more directly from the recent pro-Palestinian protests than the history of anti-Black racism. Gov. Kathy Hochul floated the possibility ofinvolving demonstrators wrapped in keffiyehs—traditional Arabic head scarves frequently worn by movement members—allegedly demanding Zionist passengers to exit the train. in the state legislature to ban masks at protests.
“We are still working through some of the language around health concerns for people who may have health issues after COVID-19 and other respiratory issues,” Cunningham said. “That is a primary concern of mine before signing on to any version of bills—making sure that we account for those particular situations.”
“How do you know who is immunocompromised, who’s not?” Cahn said. “Right now, we’re letting New Yorkers who need these masks stay healthy wear them without having to worry about being harassed or arrested. I’m terrified to think how many people are going to be wrongly detained, wrongly held, wrongly put in a cramped police station or central booking exposed to so many more people and deprived of their mask.
The state lawmaker also lends his support to a mask ban due to recent shootings in his Central Brooklyn district involving suspectswith masks. Will a ban have any impact on crime-fighting, though? Adam Scott Wandt, associate professor and Deputy Chair for Technology at John Jay College, says yes.