This bill is a very slippery slope...with zero explanation of how people can provide evidence that they need a mask to protect themselves - whether it's because they are covid cautious or disabled or immunocompromised or sick. And then once that's finally defined (if ever), the onus is on that community, which is another unfair burden. B…
This bill is a very slippery slope...with zero explanation of how people can provide evidence that they need a mask to protect themselves - whether it's because they are covid cautious or disabled or immunocompromised or sick. And then once that's finally defined (if ever), the onus is on that community, which is another unfair burden. But perhaps more importantly, cops will be allowed to use their discretion to target/profile mask wearers. This opens the door to additional racial profiling, harassment, discrimination against people of color and other marginalized communities that are, for instance, using their right of free speech to protest very legitimately. And now with the new administration, a simple peaceful protest could be deemed as a "threat" and lead to arrests of peaceful, mask-wearing protestors, if cops get the order to do so...Slippery slope. We have the right to protest peacefully, protest safely, and be anonymous if we want.
With the politicization of mask wearing across the country, it's not surprising to me that politicians would push anti-mask legislation under the guise of "combatting hate and intimidation," further stigmatizing mask wearing for all of us who rely on them for our health and survival.
This bill is a very slippery slope...with zero explanation of how people can provide evidence that they need a mask to protect themselves - whether it's because they are covid cautious or disabled or immunocompromised or sick. And then once that's finally defined (if ever), the onus is on that community, which is another unfair burden. But perhaps more importantly, cops will be allowed to use their discretion to target/profile mask wearers. This opens the door to additional racial profiling, harassment, discrimination against people of color and other marginalized communities that are, for instance, using their right of free speech to protest very legitimately. And now with the new administration, a simple peaceful protest could be deemed as a "threat" and lead to arrests of peaceful, mask-wearing protestors, if cops get the order to do so...Slippery slope. We have the right to protest peacefully, protest safely, and be anonymous if we want.
With the politicization of mask wearing across the country, it's not surprising to me that politicians would push anti-mask legislation under the guise of "combatting hate and intimidation," further stigmatizing mask wearing for all of us who rely on them for our health and survival.