New York county signs first mask ban into US law, sparking controversy

jeffw@lemmy.worldmod to News@lemmy.world – 187 points –
New York county signs first mask ban into US law, sparking controversy
theguardian.com
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Nassau borders Queens (NYC borough) to the east, for the out of towners. The moment you enter Long Island proper, it becomes Trump land all the way out to Montauk. It's as expensive as the city, but has zero opportunity and has a police force that is somehow more racist than NYPD??? This is the same county that willingly elected George fucking Santos

Fuck Long Island. The only silver lining is that climate change is wiping it off the map.

climate change is wiping it off the map.

I'm very worried about this. I'm not sure the ocean life can survive that much hairspray and bronzer.

The only silver lining is that climate change is wiping it off the map.

And yet the greedy fucks are still selling sheds houses in flood zones and in the worst neighborhoods for over 250k... It's so disgusting here. Greed, arrogance, and ignorance: the Long Island way!

We just got a county public alert telling us COVID is on the rise around here and to wear masks.

Whatever happened to CDC guidance?

Supposedly there's a medical exception, so covid masks are ok.

The purpose of the law is to make it easier for cops to identify protesters to brutalize later.

I doubt that's how the medical exemption will work.

You probably need to obtain an exemption on medical grounds.

I'm pretty sure that "I don't want covid" and "I don't want to give others covid" are excellent medical grounds.

Then again, I'm not a cop or Republican councilmember 🤷

And if they just wear medical masks? Are they allowed to order you to take them of?

Probably not, but they'll probably do so anyway and get away with it.

That's bleak.

Yup. Accurate assessments of police conduct and the consequences (or rather lack of consequences) thereof tend to be 😮‍💨

Yes. I believe it's entirely up to police discretion so depending on your skin color and whether johnny law had lunch will determine whether you get the 1k fine and or jail time.

It's Nassau County. It has a shitload of colleges, a shitload of cops, and a Republican majority on the council.

It doesn't take a genius to determine that this is a law specifically intended to facilitate police violence against anti-genocide protesters.

It's also just long Island, the fox news watching Karen capital of the world.

I hate living here. :(

Well it's a good thing we all just converted to a new religion in which masks are requirement - since the law allows for religious exemptions and all.

The Satanic Temple, Tenant III: "One’s body is inviolable, subject to one’s own will alone."

My body, my choice, and I choose to keep it safe by wearing a mask that harms no one. To forcibly remove my mask is to violate my liberty and my right to health, and therefore life.

I still don’t get it. What is so threatening about a mask?

Police can’t tell who you are when you’re caught on video.

Makes mass surveillance and cops persecuting every protester and person of color who so much as litters more difficult.

FSM help you if you're a person of color and accidentally drop a candy wrapper on the street during a peaceful protest against genocide..

Not that you will care: Switzerland passed a similar constitutional amendment in 2021, with no exception for religious purposes. It was proposed by a right wing party with barely hidden anti-muslim sentiment. It's one of the many recent moves that, in my view, makes my country more vulnerable to authoritarian drifts as it makes it harder to conceal one's identity in protests. There is a difference it seems to the law discussed in this article in that in switzerland the fine is not automatic. it only occurs when someone refuses to uncover their face when asked to.

When January 6th II: Electric Trumpaloo happens, or just the next Klan march, these places are going to suddenly regret that ban.

Of course they won’t regret it, it will be enforced selectively.

So if I have a cold and want to wear a mask so I don't get other people sick, I get a fine? Fuck that shit.