Rep. Ritchie Torres accused Governor Kathy Hochul of neglecting a crucial issue by failing to address the push for a mask ban in her State of the State address. Torres argues that lifting the mask mandate allows individuals to conceal their identities, potentially emboldening hate mongers and criminals, particularly in light of recent anti-Israel protests. He cites a poll showing strong public support for a mask ban and historical examples of mask bans used to combat groups like the KKK. While Hochul's office defended her record on fighting antisemitism, Torres expressed disappointment at the omission of the topic from her major address.
clamored-for ban on wearing masks in publicnext year, noted Hochul didn’t mention “antisemitism” either during her speech or in a 140-page policy booklet for 2025.
“The scandal is not that Kathy Hochul is failing to combat antisemitism. The scandal is that she is not even trying,” Torres said in a statement on X.Nearly half of adults around the world hold antisemitic views, unsettling survey findsThe congressman also sent a letter to Hochul, urging her to include legislation in her upcoming executive budget plan outlawing mask wearing, and noted that a recent poll found that 75% of New York voters back such a ban to combat hate.
“The people of New York need decisive action from a governor who has been absentee in the fight to unmask hate.”
ANTI-SEMITISM MASK BAN HATE CRIMES PUBLIC SAFETY POLITICAL CRITICISM
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