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

I am writing as your constituent to express my deep concern and strong opposition to four proposed bills in the New York State Legislature that I believe pose serious threats to our civil liberties and constitutional rights. These are Senate Bills S06746, S05911, S0534, and Assembly Bill A7632. Senate Bill **S06746**, introduced by Senator Simcha Felder, would criminalize the wearing of masks during protests. This bill effectively penalizes anonymity—a form of protected expression under the First Amendment, especially in an era when protesters may face retaliation or surveillance. In a state that once protected masked protest as a legacy of pandemic safety and individual rights, this bill represents a dangerous regression. Senate Bill **S05911**, introduced by Senator Andrew Lanza, seeks to reclassify broadly defined “riot” and “incitement to riot” offenses as Class E felonies, punishable by up to four years in prison. Given the vague and sweeping nature of New York’s definition of “riot,” this change would open the door to disproportionate prosecutions of peaceful demonstrators and send a chilling message to those seeking to exercise their right to assemble. Senate Bill **S0534**, introduced by Senator Jack Martins, would create a new offense of “aggravated disorderly conduct” targeting protestors without permits who “obstruct” passage or access. Protest, by its nature, disrupts. Criminalizing such disruptions under overly broad language not only undermines peaceful civil disobedience but also risks selective enforcement and abuse. Assembly Bill **A7632**, introduced by Assemblymember Micah Lasher, expands the definition of aggravated harassment to include the unauthorized display of symbols associated with “designated terrorist organizations.” While combating hate and terrorism is critical, this bill raises serious free speech concerns and risks criminalizing symbolic expression without clear definitions or intent requirements. Taken together, these bills are not about public safety—they are about suppressing dissent. They threaten to erode core democratic principles by silencing opposition and punishing protest. I urge you to publicly oppose these bills and vote against them should they come to the floor. As your constituent, I expect you to stand up for civil liberties, the right to protest, and the fundamental freedoms that form the foundation of our democracy. Please let me know how you intend to respond to these proposals.