In a chilling resurgence of hate-fueled demonstrations, masked protesters in New York City have unleashed a wave of antisemitic vitriol, prompting urgent calls from Jewish leaders to reinstate a long-dormant anti-mask law. The resurgence of such laws, previously wielded against the Ku Klux Klan, aims to curtail the anonymity that shields perpetrators of violent rhetoric and actions targeting Jewish communities.
As reported by the New York Post, the recent escalation reached a disturbing peak when demonstrators, their faces obscured by Covid masks, keffiyehs, balaclavas, or sunglasses, commandeered a subway train. Under the threat of violence, they demanded identification of "Zionists" and ominously warned them to leave. Such incidents have rattled the Jewish community, evoking parallels to historical persecutions.
"An anti-mask law is imperative," declared Scott Richman of the Anti-Defamation League, emphasizing its historical efficacy against hate groups like the KKK. Originally enacted in the 1950s, these laws proved pivotal in unmasking and deterring perpetrators of racial violence.
The urgency for reinstating the ban comes amidst a dramatic rise in antisemitic hate crimes, including a 150% surge documented in May compared to the previous year, according to NYPD statistics. The unsettling scenes of protestors chanting "Long live the Intifada" outside an October 7 memorial, and vile rhetoric invoking Hitler, have amplified fears among Jewish New Yorkers.
Mark Treyger, leading the Jewish Community Relations Council, condemned the escalating antisemitism as an unfolding crisis echoing dark chapters of history. "We are witnessing a resurgence of the Nazi playbook in 2024," he lamented, underscoring the need for decisive action to safeguard Jewish and all New Yorkers.
Brooklyn Republican Councilwoman Inna Vernikov, herself a Jewish immigrant from Ukraine, voiced profound concerns over the escalating violence. "We reached a crisis point long ago," she asserted, questioning if lethal violence against Jews in public spaces might follow.
The debate over the mask ban has reignited political discourse, with Assemblyman Michael Reilly advocating for its reinstatement to prevent violent mobs from operating with impunity. Reframing the issue within the context of public safety, Reilly likened masked antisemites to the Klan, emphasizing the ban's potential to restore accountability.
However, the repeal of the mask ban in 2020 amid the Covid-19 pandemic was supported by health officials and civil liberties advocates, such as New York Attorney General Letitia James and the New York Civil Liberties Union. They argued for its necessity in safeguarding public health during the pandemic, a stance that drew criticism from advocates now pressing for its reinstatement.
As tensions escalate, legal experts and community leaders like Matthew Schweber of the Columbia University Jewish Alumni Association point to groups like Students for Justice in Palestine for allegedly endorsing mask use to shield unlawful conduct. Schweber argued that such protests, steeped in harassment and incitement, warrant legal scrutiny beyond protection under the First Amendment.
The resurgence of antisemitism in New York City has thus reignited a contentious debate over civil liberties versus public safety, underscoring the complex balance between free speech and hate speech in a society grappling with historical traumas and contemporary anxieties.
