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New York, NY, January 23, 2025 … ADL (the Anti-Defamation League) today welcomed the introduction of a bill in the New York Legislature designed to bring back and strengthen a law prohibiting masked intimidation. The law will protect New Yorkers from harassment, violence and intimidation by people wearing face coverings, which have been exploited in recent months to subject innocent New Yorkers to threats, violence and intimidation.
Sponsored by State Senator James Skoufis (D-Cornwall) and Assemblymember Jeffrey Dinowitz (D-Bronx), the legislation will bring back and strengthen laws that make masked harassment a crime in New York, while upholding free speech protections and exemptions for health and religious purposes.
“Today, New York has taken the first step towards holding accountable those who choose to hide behind masks to threaten and intimidate others,” said Jonathan Greenblatt, ADL CEO and National Director. “At a time when we are facing a crisis of antisemitism, both here in New York and around the country, addressing this tactic of haters is long overdue. We are proud to support anti-masked harassment legislation as a crucial step forward and urge lawmakers and the governor to prioritize this critical bill.”
ADL has joined with civil rights leaders from across New York, including the National Urban League, NAACP New York State Conference, UJA Federation of New York and Jewish Community Relations Council, to launch #UnMaskHateNY to support diverse lawmakers as they craft and introduce legislation to combat what civil rights and faith leaders credibly deem to be KKK-style tactics. These and other stakeholders have been on the record since June 2024 that a measure must be strong and effective but protect the health-conscious or immuno-compromised.
“In the past year, we’ve seen masked individuals threatening Jewish students and civilians on our campuses, on public transportation and in the streets of New York, using Klan-like tactics and hiding their identities behind masks,” said Scott Richman, Director of ADL’s New York/New Jersey Region. “This bill is a commonsense and fair solution. It will compel those who would use masks to threaten or harass others to take off their masks or face the consequences."
ADL has long been an advocate for strong anti-masking harassment statutes. In the 1950s and 1960s, the organization championed anti-mask legislation that helped to unmask and defang the Ku Klux Klan.
A poll released earlier last week showed that banning masked intimidation is favored by a clear supermajority (75%) of New York voters, cutting across all demographics. It is critical that the state take a strong stance against individuals and groups that seek to use masks to threaten and intimidate, including during the commission of hate crimes.
ADL is the leading anti-hate organization in the world. Founded in 1913, its timeless mission is “to stop the defamation of the Jewish people and to secure justice and fair treatment to all.” Today, ADL continues to fight all forms of antisemitism and bias, using innovation and partnerships to drive impact. A global leader in combating antisemitism, countering extremism and battling bigotry wherever and whenever it happens, ADL works to protect democracy and ensure a just and inclusive society for all. More at www.adl.org.
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