We have a right to safety, privacy, and protest. Say no to mask bans.

As protests continue against the genocide in Gaza, lawmakers across the country are scrambling for ways to make it harder for protestors to exercise their First Amendment rights. Now, they’re trying to quash protest by going after an important safety tool and growing symbol of solidarity against surveillance, ableism, and genocide: masks.

With mask bans passed in North Carolina and Nassau County, New York, elected officials across the country are following, claiming that police (and their invasive surveillance tools) need to see our faces in order to “keep us safe.” But surveillance isn’t safe, and mask bans only put us more at risk.

Mask bans hurt everyone.

With facial recognition technology on the rise and COVID and Long COVID still running rampant in our communities, banning masks would put us all in danger, especially the Disabled, BIPOC, and low-income communities already experiencing disproportionate harm.

Mask bans grant police and vigilante citizens sweeping powers to force people to unmask and be identified, denying disabled people and political protestors equal access to public safety and privacy by design. Weak and ineffectual health and religious exemptions are guaranteed to be arbitrarily enforced, leading to more police violence and harassment. We can’t let that happen. 

Sign the petition and tell lawmakers:
no mask bans, no exceptions.

If a mask ban is currently proposed in your area, your comments may be sent to key local officials in addition to your federal representatives.

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40+ Rights Organizations Sign Letter Urging Lawmakers to Denounce Mask Bans, Citing Free Expression, Privacy, Discrimination Concerns

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