**By The Associated Press**
*MINEOLA, N.Y.* — Lawmakers in a suburban New York county have passed a bill banning masks in public spaces, with exceptions for health, religious, or cultural reasons.
The bill, approved Monday by the Republican-majority Nassau County Legislature on Long Island, aims to prevent violent protesters from concealing their identities. Legislator Howard Kopel stated that the measure was prompted by “antisemitic incidents, often carried out by masked individuals” following the start of the recent Israel-Hamas conflict on October 7.
All 12 Republicans in the legislature supported the bill, while the seven Democrats abstained from voting.
This move comes after New York’s Democratic Governor, Kathy Hochul, suggested in June that she was considering a similar ban for the New York City subway system, though no concrete plans have been announced. Both measures were proposed in response to an increase in masked protesters.
The New York Civil Liberties Union criticized the Nassau County ban, arguing that it infringes on free speech rights. “Masks protect those who express unpopular political views,” said Susan Gottehrer, the group’s Nassau County regional director. “Criminalizing anonymous protest stifles political action and could lead to doxxing, surveillance, and retaliation against protesters.”
The Nassau County bill designates it a misdemeanor to wear a mask in public to conceal one's identity, with penalties including up to a year in jail and a $1,000 fine.
However, the bill allows exceptions for masks worn for health, safety, religious, or cultural reasons, or for the observance of holidays or events where masks are traditionally worn.
During testimony on Monday, Nassau County Police Commissioner Patrick Ryder assured legislators that officers would be able to distinguish between individuals using masks for criminal purposes and those wearing them for legitimate medical or religious reasons.
“We’re not going to arrest someone simply for wearing a mask,” Ryder said, as reported by Newsday. “We’ll approach the person, talk to them, and determine the reason.”
Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, a Republican, is anticipated to sign the bill into law. “Unless someone has a medical condition or religious requirement, people should not be permitted to cover their faces in public in a way that obscures their identity,” he stated following the legislature's vote.
The legislative chambers were filled with public speakers both for and against the bill. Supporters argued that the measure would prevent protesters who engage in harassment or violence from avoiding accountability. Opponents contended that it could infringe on privacy rights for people with disabilities and might not be enforced equitably across different communities.
Before the vote, Democratic Legislator Arnold Drucker criticized the bill, saying it “overstepped and could harm First Amendment rights.”