MOSHE HILL OPINION COLUMNS AUGUST 21 2024
Anyone looking at the campus protests that defined the spring semester of universities around the country, the shutting down of roads and bridges, or the gathering of tens of thousands of terror supporters outside the Democratic National Convention can see how many people are wearing masks. Unlike the mask-wearing of 2020 and 2021, where people were concerned about the spread of Covid, this mask-wearing is for an entirely different purpose. This is to prevent accountability for their actions.
In Nassau County, action has been taken to give police officers the power to approach suspicious mask-wearing individuals. Last week, Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman officially signed the Mask Transparency Act into law, marking a pivotal moment in the county’s commitment to public safety. The legislation, which criminalizes the wearing of masks with the intent to harm or harass others in public spaces, was met with enthusiastic support from the community. This law underscores Nassau County’s resolve to protect its residents from those who use masks to conceal their identities while committing acts of violence or intimidation.
During the signing ceremony, Executive Blakeman emphasized the necessity of this legislation, highlighting how it aims to curb various criminal activities that have become more prevalent under the cover of anonymity provided by masks. He asserted that Nassau County, recognized as the safest big county in America, must continue to lead by example in ensuring public safety. While some critics may raise concerns about individual rights, Blakeman made it clear that the law is not about restricting freedoms but about preventing harm, with clear exceptions for medical and religious reasons.
The event also featured powerful testimonials, including that of Joey Borgen, a victim of an anti-Semitic attack by masked individuals. For those who don’t remember his name, Joey Borgen was attending a pro-Israel rally in New York City in May 2021, the last time Hamas fired rockets at Israel. While there, because he was wearing a yarmulke, he was attacked by several young Muslim men. Borgen said at the ceremony that one of his attackers was recently indicted. It took so long because it was difficult to identify him behind the mask.
Borgen’s story doesn’t just illustrate the need to give police the power to request people remove masks under penalty of arrest or fines, it is indicative of how backwards New York City is when dealing with hate crimes against Jews. When the initial attackers were caught, Waseem Awawdeh was the main perpetrator. He was let out on bail, and proudly said that he would “do it again” if given the opportunity. A year and a half later, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg offered him a sweetheart deal of six months in jail when the sentence could have been between 13 and 17 years. After a massive public outcry, the plea deal was withdrawn. Instead, Awawdeh received a sentence of 18 months, still far short of what he deserved.
Later in 2023, the House Judiciary Committee came to New York City to discuss the plague of violent crime that has been prevalent since the latter days of Bill de Blasio and the current days of Bragg. Joey Borgen’s father, Barry Borgen, testified about his son’s attack. He also turned his ire on Democratic leaders in the House and Senate for doing nothing about this crime. “I must take issue with Mr. [Jerry] Nadler,” Barry said. “You’re a Jewish New Yorker. I called your office numerous times. I called Mr. [Chuck] Schumer’s office, another Jewish New Yorker, numerous times. No one called us back. Neither one of you came out with a statement about my son’s incident. You’re a Jewish New Yorker. You have Jewish roots here. Behavior like this enables DA Bragg to do whatever he wants to do.”
This is relevant because these same people who stand in the majestic halls of Washington, DC, and claim to be speaking on behalf of their constituency have nothing to say about the terror that much of their constituency feel when confronted by an angry, mask-wearing, pro-Hamas mob. Chuck Schumer even has the audacity to write a book about the rise of anti-Semitism in America. When Speaker of the House Mike Johnson descended on Columbia University, they were nowhere to be found. When Representative Anthony D’Esposito was demanding that Columbia foot the bill for the NYPD cleanup after the protesters, the Democrats were silent. When Representative Elise Stefanik was exposing the university president’s prejudices against Jews, Democrats were defending them. The rot goes deep.
Fortunately, Mayor Eric Adams is advocating for a New York City law that would ban the wearing of masks in public, similar to the recent law passed in Nassau County, with exceptions for health reasons. Adams argues that masks can hinder justice by concealing the identities of criminals, protesters, and rioters. City Council Member Inna Vernikov supports this initiative through her “Unmask the Hate” resolution, which calls for criminalizing the concealment of facial features during assemblies, stating that current mask laws are outdated remnants of the Covid pandemic.
Making common sense measures like this a legal reality needs to go through the massive hurdle called the New York City Council. There is simply no desire by the far-left council to do anything that would upset their activist, volunteer, and voter base: college kids. Nassau County has been criticized for addressing a problem that they don’t have in great numbers but are never praised for not having that problem because preventive measures have taken place. Maybe if New York City took some preventive measures, people would be more comfortable walking around Manhattan with yarmulkes on.
