1. United States
2. N.Y.
3. Letter

Vote no on the slew of anti protest legislations that have been introduced. We have a constitutionally protected right to protest. These new movements introduced are clearly an attempt to criminalize protesting. S06746 makes it illegal to wear a mask when protesting. Myself and many other New Yorkers are immunocompromised. Air borne illnesses are dangerous and we should be allowed to protect ourselves from them. It has been proven that anti-mask laws are enforced unilaterally even when medical exceptions are included. Furthermore in an era where police regularly use chemical weapons against peaceful protestors we should be allowed to protect our eyes and airways. Tear gas and other chemical agents can cause permanent harm. S05911 is vague at best and will be used to charge protesters with a felony just because it was determined they “incited a riot”. This can easily be turned against organizers, those deemed louder than others, and as history has shown, anyone the police decides. There is so way to enforce this without violating our 1st amendment right to protest. S534 essentially criminalizes protesting. Again, this is a protected right. If this became a law police would be able to charge peaceful protesters with a misdemeanor just because they were in the road, in front of a door, or any other place enforcement decided they shouldn’t be. Seeing the way protests have been handled in the past I can easily see this being an easily abused law. Police could push protesters into “prohibited” locations and then charge everyone present. Lastly A7632 is vague and easy to abuse. The government can decide any organization is a terrorist organization if they don’t like them. With the current attack on the queer and POC communities how far off are we from the pride flag or Mexican flag qualifying as a terrorist act under this rule? We are allowed to protest when our voices aren’t being heard. Our rights are be stripped away every day by this government. Do not make it easier for them.