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IT'S OFFICIAL: The mask ban in Nassau County, NY is now law and takes effect immediately.
It gives police the power to fine people wearing a mask $1,000 and sentence them to jail time.
While the bill includes health and religious exceptions, the broad language means anyone wearing a mask could be arrested.
If you are in Nassau County, please keep wearing mask!
The mask ban bill includes a health exception, so you have the right to assert that you are wearing a mask for health reasons.
But the bill gives cops power to intimidate people wearing a mask, so please be careful.
@luckytran@med-mastodon.comIt's important to know your rights! Even though a mask ban is now law in Nassau County, NY, cops can't:
Make you provide a doctors note proving your disability Force you to disclose private health info Make you take off a religious face covering
The Nassau County mask ban applies to all public spaces, not just protests. And the language means that police officers — who are not medical or religious experts — will arbitrarily determine who has the right to wear a mask and who goes to jail.
https://nassaucountyny.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Item/3192?fileID=247452
With the mask ban now law in Nassau County, it's critical to document any wrongful arrests and harassment.
The ban will increase racial profiling by police, and general attacks on all people who are wearing masks.
Documentation will strengthen legal challenges against the ban.
I ride the LIRR through Nassau county on my commute - does the new ban affect me?
@jdc @luckytran yep as public transit is in fact Public.
@luckytran An EXTREMELY important detail that is on the NYCLU web page briefing about this is that there is a very broad medical exemption, but it is ONLY for people PROTECTING THEMSELVES.
The NYCLU explicitly points out that if you are wearing a mask because you are infected and contagious and are trying to protect OTHERS, that is NOT given an exemption under this law.
They likewise point out that if you are wearing a mask because you live with someone immunocompromised and are trying to protect THEM, that is also NOT given an exemption under this law.
IMPORTANT: If you are wearing a mask in Nassau County and accosted by the police, tell them you are protecting YOURSELF.
(Which, if it's not true, it should be. The first step in not spreading it is not catching it.)
So, basically law enforcement is saying “we have invested heavily in surveillance cameras that are easily thwarted by people wearing face masks. Wearing a mask is therefore prohibited, unless it’s Halloween. How else could we convict protestors?”
@airwhale @luckytran Yes that would be my take too ,masks do matter for preventing covid etc ,but this is much more wide ranging the clear target is protestors
@luckytran I had lunch at a little place in Kanagawa two days ago, and when the master said to me at the buffet, "You don't have to wear a mask!", I responded, "But is it *permitted* to wear a mask?" Then I explained this American shitshow situation, to the amazement of master and his staff.
So I guess the good news is that we've finally found a thing where American Exceptionalism isn't a lie.
And the bad news ...
@luckytran I hope that's appealed. Absolute stupidity.
@luckytran
I remember when NYC & Long Island were bastions of intelligence.
@luckytran Aw, we killed the server with our love and attention.
@luckytran unfortunately, politely declining to give PII to a cop will probably end with some broken bones. Plus, this law will absolutely be selectively and unjustly enforced. Yikes.
@luckytran
People need to sue...
This is a matter of public health.