The Politics of Masks in Providence — ICE and Protesters
GoLocalProv News Team
The Politics of Masks in Providence — ICE and Protesters
It wasn’t long ago that most masks were worn in public by just two groups — children at Halloween and bank robbers.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTBut now, a political debate rages on the wearing of masks by protesters and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers.
The tactic is new — previously, neither group wore masks.
The issue has come to the forefront over the past two years. First, protesters against Israel wore masks in actions in Providence and across the country.
The Anti-Defamation League has criticized protesters wearing masks, viewing it as a tactic to conceal identity and intimidate others.
The organization's CEO, Jonathan Greenblatt, has called for a ban on face coverings at protests, arguing that it is not a free speech issue but a matter of public safety and a tactic similar to the Ku Klux Klan's use of hoods to hide identities and terrorize people. The ADL supports legislation that would differentiate between masks worn for health reasons and those used to conceal identity during public disturbances, citing instances of masked individuals threatening or harassing others.
In the New York legislature, a bill was introduced to ban the wearing of masks by protesters.
“In the past year, we’ve seen masked individuals threatening Jewish students and civilians on our campuses, on public transportation and in the streets of New York, using Klan-like tactics and hiding their identities behind masks,” said Scott Richman, Director of ADL’s New York/New Jersey Region. “This bill is a commonsense and fair solution. It will compel those who would use masks to threaten or harass others to take off their masks or face the consequences."
No legislative action was proposed in Rhode Island.
As the Providence City Council has taken legislative action trying to block the Providence Police from participating and assisting ICE in raids, the debate over ICE wearing masks has spilled over to the City’s emerging mayoral race between sitting Mayor Brett Smiley and challenger David Morales. Smiley issued an executive order baring Providence Police from wearing masks.
Morales says Smiley has a weak approach to stopping ICE.
“To my knowledge, the Mayor is only attempting to enforce the masking policy with local police,” said Morales.
“As mayor, I would create ICE-free zones via an executive order banning ICE from operating on any city-owned property and would invite small businesses and residential property owners to join the effort. I would also work with the Governor and state legislature to expand that effort to state-owned property, and to pass legislation banning all law enforcement agents from wearing masks while on duty in Rhode Island,” Morales added.
Morales claims the masking by protesters and ICE is different.
“There are key differences between protesters and law enforcement officers. Protesters are not kidnapping people from our communities, and they are not agents of the state. They have First Amendment rights both to protest and to dress as they choose to,” Morales says.
Smiley defends his position on masks.
“Both the Providence Community-Police Relations Act and the Mayor's executive order [mask provision] apply only to law enforcement officials. The City of Providence does not limit an individual’s ability to wear protective face coverings when they are participating in lawful, safe demonstrations,” said Josh Estrella, Smiley’s communications director.
“Mayor Smiley understands that Providence’s Jewish neighbors have increasingly felt targeted and divided by the rise of antisemitism in recent years, and that is why he has worked hard to ensure our local Jewish community feels safe and welcomed in Providence,” he added.