Mask Bans are Everyone’s Issue
Mask bans might seem like a niche issue, but their impact goes far beyond public health: workers’ rights, racial justice, climate, and more. Despite ongoing public health concerns, several anti-mask initiatives have emerged in New York since mid-2024. Democrats are prioritizing a bill at the state level for the 2025 session, even with COVID-19 cases rising and more New Yorkers becoming sick and disabled.
We’re kicking off 8 Nights of Solidarity to highlight the intersections of mask bans with other causes. We’ll update this article as new posts are added. Follow along at @jews4maskrights, share it with your networks, and join the conversation.
Part of an organization looking to join the fight? Email jewsformaskrights@gmail.com to connect with other groups working on this issue.
If you’re Jewish, please sign our petition opposing mask bans.
Mask Bans are a Community Issue
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Mask bans are spreading, even in places like New York. Here’s why that matters:
Mask bans criminalize acts that keep communities safe and put everyone at risk. Wearing a mask is a simple way to protect others and demonstrates collective care.
Bans let police decide who has a “medical need,” enabling biased enforcement that disproportionately targets BIPOC communities. They also fuel stigma, increasing harassment and discrimination against mask-wearers.
Health exemptions fall short because many rely on others masking to stay safe, even without a medical need. One-way masking isn’t enough, and bans deny high-risk people the community protection they rely on.
Mask bans shut disabled people out of society, isolating them from public life and stripping away their right to participate in the world around them.
Community Issue Graphics
Mask Bans are a Labor Issue
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Mask bans are spreading, even in places like New York. Here’s why that matters:
Many workers can’t afford to get sick, with ~28 million nationwide lacking any paid sick leave. Those most likely to be policed for wearing a mask often have the least access to adequate sick leave.
Workers have sometimes used face coverings to shield against employer retaliation while advocating for better conditions. Mask bans remove this anonymity, deterring protests, strikes, and organizing, weakening workers’ collective power.
BIPOC workers frequently face greater workplace hazards and health risks, making masks essential. Mask bans disproportionately target these communities through biased enforcement, increasing the likelihood of police scrutiny for wearing protective gear on the job.
Low-wage workers often rely on balaclavas and ski masks for warmth in cold weather. Delivery drivers and others who depend on these protections could be deemed suspicious by police under mask bans.
Mask bans criminalize preventive masking. This raises the risk of conditions like Long COVID, which has disabled over 16M working-age Americans and forced 4M out of work. Long COVID has cost up to $430B in lost income annually.
As remote work disappears, high-risk workers are forced into in-person jobs to keep their income and healthcare. Mask bans increase their exposure to COVID and make it unsafe to wear a mask due to fear of policing and discrimination.
Labor Graphics
Mask Bans are a Climate Issue
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Masks protect against worsening air quality from wildfires and pollution. Reusable P100 masks (“gas masks”) filter harmful fine particles that can penetrate deep into the body but may attract increased policing due to their appearance.
The recent wave of mask bans was intended to stifle climate movements. They began in response to the 2017 Standing Rock protests, where water protectors used masks to shield themselves from aggressive state and corporate actions.
Mask bans worsen environmental racism by disproportionately harming communities of color, who already face higher exposure to air pollution and climate-related health risks. Criminalizing masks removes a vital protective measure, deepening disparities and increasing the risk of over-policing.
Face coverings are essential for protection in extreme weather conditions. Ski masks and balaclavas help regulate breathing and protect facial skin from frostbite during severe cold snaps.
Environmental stressors like pollution weaken the immune system, while warmer temperatures and urbanization accelerate disease spread. Masks help protect healthy individuals by reducing exposure, but a mask ban would prevent their use.
Masks help mitigate worsening allergies from extended pollen seasons and increased air pollution caused by climate change. Criminalizing their use puts wearers at risk for relying on a simple tool for relief.
Climate Graphics
Take Action Against Mask Bans
Sign Our Open Letter: Add your name to show Jewish opposition to mask bans: JewsForMaskRights.com
Send to 3 Friends: Build momentum by getting the word out. You can also share our Instagram posts your story!
Engage Others: Ask organizations you support to take a stand and join the fight against mask bans.
For more actions, check out our Other Actions page.
