Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Nassau County executive signs protest mask ban, urges state and city to follow suit
By
Charles Lane
Published Aug 14, 2024
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
Screenshot via Nassau County website
By
Charles Lane
Published Aug 14, 2024
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
A Nassau County bill barring groups of people from using face coverings to hide their identities in public was signed into law on Wednesday after a rancorous debate that pitted police reform advocates against groups critical of Israel in its ongoing conflict with Hamas.
At the bill signing, County Executive Bruce Blakeman called on New York City and state policymakers to follow Nassau County’s lead.
“Mayor Eric Adams has been very vocal that he would like the New York City Council to pass a similar piece of legislation as have other Democrats,” he said.
A spokesperson for City Hall clarified that while Adams supports banning masks on the subway, he has not proposed any legislation to the City Council regarding masks worn at protests or in non-health-related situations.
“We will continue to work with our partners at the city and state levels to determine whether there is a legal path to prohibiting the use of masks when not being used for health reasons,” spokesperson Liz Garcia said in an emailed statement.
Nassau County’s ban bars anyone older than 16 from wearing face coverings as a disguise while in groups and acting with intent to intimidate or harass. It makes exceptions for people who wear masks for health or religious reasons and entrusts local police to make that distinction.
Violating the law is a misdemeanor punishable by a $1,000 fine and up to a year in jail, which is stricter than the previous statewide penalty of $250 and up to 15 days in jail.
Nassau County’s Republican majority voted in favor of the bill last week following a contentious public comment period that resulted in one arrest. Democrats in the Legislature abstained from the vote after proposing their own legislation focusing specifically on penalties against criminals who use face coverings in the commission of a crime and are convicted of a misdemeanor or felony.
Both Adams and Gov. Kathy Hochul proposed legislation to ban face coverings during specific events after two high-profile incidents involving masked anti-Israel protesters earlier this summer.
While Nassau’s ban was drafted and signed in less than a month, Hochul called the issue complicated and said she intends to take her time in crafting legislation.
Hochul’s office did not respond to requests for comment on Nassau’s ban. Her earlier comments suggested banning face coverings during the commission of a crime while noting that “protesting is not a crime.”
At Wednesday’s bill signing, Blakeman featured speakers critical of protesters who they claimed wore face coverings to intimidate Jews. Shabbos Kestenbaum, a prominent Jewish activist, flew from California to attend the signing.
“You do not have a constitutional right to bully, intimidate and harass Jewish students on college campuses,” Kestenbaum said, to applause. “This is a common-sense piece of legislation, and it is a shame that this is not being adopted across the United States, but I do hope that someone like Kathy Hochul is watching.”
Numerous groups have voiced opposition to Nassau’s ban, including the Council on American-Islamic Relations and Disability Rights New York, which have both called the law illegal.
Susan Gottehrer, Regional Director of the New York Civil Liberties Union, said the law only empowers a police force she called “racially biased.”
“Masks protect people who express political opinions that are controversial,” she said in an emailed statement. “Officials should be supporting New Yorkers’ right to voice their views, not fueling widespread doxxing and threatening arrests.”
Tagged
new york state
Health and Science
new york city
public safety
long island
Politics
Charles Lane
Charles is a Day-of reporter focused on breaking news and enterprise. He’s very friendly and can be reached at [email protected], or more securely on whatsapp/signal 631-295-6715
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
New Yorkers are paying $300 million for natural gas they don't even use
A new study found that nearly 2% of the city's natural gas is leaking into the air and causing climate pollution.
By
Rosemary Misdary
Published Oct 14, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. ET
Early Addition: Eric Adams did not convince a Wisconsin town to build a data center
Because the vote against it was unanimous, here are your early links: Jacket weather, swishing your Guinness, spooky decorations in North Jersey and more.
By
James Ramsay
News
Early Addition: Eric Adams did not convince a Wisconsin town to build a data center
Because the vote against it was unanimous, here are your early links: Jacket weather, swishing your Guinness, spooky decorations in North Jersey and more.
By
James Ramsay
Hit-and-run driver arrested trying to flee to Uzbekistan after deadly crash, NYPD says
By
Brittany Kriegstein
NY measles outbreak more widespread than official count, health officials say
By
Caroline Lewis
A NYC judge brought his gun into court for an ‘experiment’. Now he’s censured.
By
Samantha Max
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .