Mask bans are growing in popularity. Critics call the trend a 'dog whistle' to quell protest. [View all]

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/mask-bans-are-growing-popularity-critics-call-trend-dog-whistle-quell-rcna160218

Mask bans are growing in popularity. Critics call the trend a 'dog whistle' to quell protest.

July 8, 2024, 7:00 AM PDT
By Marquise Francis

Once seen as a symbol of protection against the spread of a deadly virus, masks are now being blamed for emboldening some people to commit acts of violence amid a rise in clashes at protests over the Israel-Hamas war.

Elected officials in New York City and Los Angeles have signaled recently that they’re open to reinstating decades-old mask bans after several tense pro-Palestinian demonstrations, where local officials say masked protesters aimed to conceal their identity. Republicans in North Carolina recently signed a controversial mask restriction into law, sparking an intense debate between supporters who cite safety concerns and critics who argue it could affect protesting and free speech rights. In January, Philadelphia banned ski masks in public spaces in an effort to reduce crime, citing several incidents of violence involving masked gunmen.

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Proponents of mask restrictions, however, say they will go a long way in keeping people safe by helping law enforcement identify criminals.

“We will not tolerate individuals using masks to evade responsibility for criminal or threatening behavior,” Hochul said last month at a press conference on public safety.

Adams invoked Martin Luther King Jr.’s activism to dispel the need for masks while protesting.

“Dr. King did not hide his face when he marched and for the things he thought were wrong in the country,” he said. “Those civil rights leaders did not hide their faces. They stood up. In contrast to that, the Klan hid their faces.”

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(Criminals to Covid to protesters to magas and ice: What are the laws where you live?)