New York needs to restore its “No masked demonstrations” law now — not dawdle while antisemitic goons run wild.
And state Attorney General Tish James, who led the drive to repeal the state’s longtime mask ban amid the COVID pandemic, should be leading the charge to revive it.
Before state lawmakers went home for the year, Assemblyman Michael Reilly (R-SI) pushed for the Legislature to join 16 other states in banning “deceptive” masks or other face coverings, but the Democrats who dominate in Albany didn’t care to discuss it.
Goonish masking has become routine at “pro-Palestine” protests, as keffiyeh wearers turn a fashion statement into identity concealment, imitating the Antifa veterans who’ve rushed to join this latest far-left cause.
Maybe the Legislature’s leaders told themselves the issue would fade as college kids went home, but the local protests have only grown worse — more threatening, as in that “Zionists need to leave” subway outrage, and the even more openly antisemitic “I wish Hitler was still here” guy at the “Long live October 7th” rally.
Masking emboldens the “demonstrators” and intimidates everyone else; that’s why the Ku Klux Klan adopted its masks and why so many states banned masks in response.
And today’s masked protesters are every bit as odious as the Klan.
Some claim the mask-wearing is to prevent “doxxing” over their activism, but there’s no free-speech right to protest anonymously.
No, it’s all about bullying — a license to threaten, and even commit violence.
New York’s anti-mask law actually dated back more than two centuries, before James joined ACLU extremists in urging legislators to kill it, using COVID as a pretext.
But now masks are being abused in total KKK style: James has a duty to reverse course — especially if she wants to keep any hope of winning higher office.
Gov. Kathy Hochul says she’ll “look at” restoring New York’s mask ban, but that’s not good enough.
She needs to join Mayor Eric Adams in demanding it — and to call the Legislature back for a special session to pass it.
If state lawmakers balk, well: They’re all up for election in November.
Voters can and should keep track of which politicians insist on protecting the modern version of the Klan.