HB1081 has a hearing in the House Judiciary Committee tomorrow at 1 p.m. It would enable 90-day detentions/$500 fines (for first offenses) for protesters who mask because, say, a Zionist perceived a Palestinian solidarity protester as “intentionally threatening.” - ThreadSky

trustpunch.bsky.social • 39 days ago

HB1081 has a hearing in the House Judiciary Committee tomorrow at 1 p.m. It would enable 90-day detentions/$500 fines (for first offenses) for protesters who mask because, say, a Zionist perceived a Palestinian solidarity protester as “intentionally threatening.”

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trustpunch.bsky.social•39 days ago

The bill’s sponsors claim support for religious/health exemptions from this law, but it’s unclear how masking for “legitimate” reasons would be identified when it’s not like there are licenses for “not wanting to get the flu.” Cops, who use facial recognition technology, would have full discretion.

trustpunch.bsky.social•39 days ago

Here’s the contact information for House Judiciary Committee members. Remind them the Maryland Department of Health has recommended universal masking and that this bill would lead to greater profiling from police, and urge them to vote NO on advancing HB1081. https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Committees/Details?cmte=jud

trustpunch.bsky.social•39 days ago

Wrt this bill, I’m actually thinking about how I’ve seen the bill’s described scenario inverted — sometime in the last year or so, I was at a protest where many folks were masked, including me. Unmasked counter-protesters verbally and physically intimidated folks *because* we were wearing masks.

trustpunch.bsky.social•39 days ago

Some dweeb quote-tweeted this to bizarrely say he saw a woman with a full face covering remove it to take her driver’s license photo — which everyone has to do for government I.D. photos — and purported that as some kind of proof face coverings aren’t necessary. Don’t be like that dweeb.

trustpunch.bsky.social•39 days ago

It’s notable that some states (not including Maryland) have laws on the books tacking on an additional charge for wearing a mask while committing a crime. What this bill does, however, is give police more legal backing to detain people for wearing masks or face coverings in situations like protests.

trustpunch.bsky.social•39 days ago

These affirmative defenses listed in the bill are intended for once you’re detained for questioning or even charged for being accused of harassing someone while wearing a mask. They’re not a way to get out of either (and you shouldn’t talk to police without a lawyer present anyway).

godeatersdad.bsky.social•39 days ago

Called and added my opposition to this dangerous bill.

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