This New York County Signed The Nation's First Face Mask Ban Into Law

Lawmakers in New York’s Nassau County enacted the nation’s first ban on wearing face masks in public on Wednesday.

The Mask Transparency Act, which was signed into law by Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, makes it illegal for people to wear face masks “for the purposes of concealing an individual’s identity in public places,” WABC-TV in New York City reported . Those who violate the law could face a fine of $1,000, up to a year in jail, or both.

The law was proposed in response to “antisemitic incidents, often perpetrated by those in masks” following Hamas’ surprise attack on Israel on Oct. 7, which prompted Israel to launch an ongoing attack on Palestinians in Gaza, ABC News reported .

The ban, which takes effect in the Long Island county immediately, is aimed at those who intend to commit crimes while hiding their face, and Nassau police will make the determination on intent, Blakeman said, according to NBC News .

“We’re not looking to lock up innocent people,” Blakeman said at a news conference. “[Police] can sniff out somebody who’s lying in most circumstances. And this gives them the ability to stop them and ask them, ‘What are you doing?’”

But the ban has drawn criticism from lawmakers and rights groups, such as the New York Civil Liberties Union (NYCLU), who worry that the law will result in the persecution of people trying to protect themselves and others against the surge of COVID-19 cases and who see the ban as a means of clamping down on protesters who want to hide their identities.

NYCLU’s Beth Haroules told NBC News that the law targets political protesters who have a right to their anonymity and that the ban will result in selective police enforcement.

“The truth is, a mask ban won’t do