Should face masks be banned at college campus protests?

[KARAH RUCKER]

OVER 100 PRO-ISRAELI DEMONSTRATORS GATHERED NEAR COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY TUESDAY – 

ADVOCATING FOR UNIVERSITIES TO **BAN FACE MASKS AND COVERINGS DURING PROTESTS. 

THEY ARGUE SUCH BANS WOULD ENHANCE SAFETY AND ADDRESS CONCERNS OVER PEOPLE CONCEALING THEIR IDENTITIES TO PREVENT ARREST.

BUT THOSE AGAINST A FACE MASK BAN SAY ITS A STUDENT’S **RIGHT TO BE ABLE TO WEAR ONE IF THEY WANT TO.

THIS CALL FOR A MASK BAN FOLLOWS CONFRONTATIONS DURING SPRING PROTESTS AT COLUMBIA –

WHERE SOME PRO-PALESTINIAN DEMONSTRATORS WORE MASKS –

WHILE VANDALIZING THE CAMPUS AND COMMITTING ANTISEMITIC ACTS.

SHAI DAVIDI – AN ASSISTANT PROFESSOR AT COLUMBIA BUSINESS SCHOOL –

TOLD CBS NEWS “WHILE REMOVING MASKS WON’T ELIMINATE HATRED, IT MIGHT INTRODUCE ACCOUNTABILITY.”

NEW YORK CITY MAYOR ERIC ADAMS HAS SIGNALED HE SHARES THESE CONCERNS.

HE PREVIOUSLY INDICATED SUPPORT FOR A MASK BAN –

WITH EXCEPTIONS FOR THOSE WHO WEAR THEM FOR HEALTH OR RELIGIOUS REASONS. 

BUT AN ATTORNEY FOR THE AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION –

SAYS IT GIVES POLICE TOO MUCH POWER.

TELLING CBS NEWS –

“Masks not only protect people’s health, but they also permit people to engage in protected First Amendment activity.”

IN NASSAU COUNTY IN NEW YORK –

THERE IS A NEWLY ENACTED MASK BAN CREATING CONTROVERSY.

ON SUNDAY – AN 18 YEAR OLD MIGRANT WAS THE FIRST PERSON ARRESTED UNDER THIS LAW.

ACCORDING TO THE NEW YORK TIMES – 

HE WAS CHARGED WITH WEARING A MASK IN PUBLIC AND POSSESSING A 14-INCH KNIFE.

THIS – BEING A MILESTONE MOMENT IN THE DEBATE OVER MASK REGULATIONS IN NEW YORK STATE.

HEY THANKS FOR WATCHING OUR NEWS UPDATE.

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