This year, Gov. Hochul and others tried to pass a mask ban in New York to "fight antisemitism." (Spoiler: it would not help fight antisemitism). We helped beat it, alongside our partners like @jfrejnyc.bsky.social, @jews4maskrights.bsky.social, and @nyclu.org. But the fight isn't over. Read more:

As ppl got more vocal against masks a strange thing started happening. I take Uber to my medical appointments and all of a sudden my rating started to drop. Nothing I did changed. I am polite, I tip well. I can't help thinking it's about the mask.

Regarding mask bans as a campaign platform in the 2025 NYC Democratic Mayoral Primary. #NoNYMaskBan

“Masks are also a vital tool for medically vulnerable people to safely participate in public life, including protest,” Bohm also said. “Any ban on masks effectively forces them to choose between their safety and their rights.”

On wearing a mask, Kathy Brammer told @artiscuriskis.bsky.social "“I have elderly parents, I have people [in my life] who are immunocompromised. The statistics and the science really say that this is what’s going to keep them safe, me safe, and everyone else safe.”

NEW: @artiscuriskis.bsky.social and I wrote about what it's like to be wearing a mask at New York's Nassau County's #NoKings rally for @motherjones.com. The county notoriously has a mask ban, making covering your face a form of resistance in itself. www.motherjones.com/politics/202...

“Penalizing mask-wearing, even through sentencing enhancements, still punishes people for protecting their health and will disproportionately impact overpoliced communities.” Grateful to @lauralew105.bsky.social & @prismreports.org for covering the dangers of anti-mask legislation. #NoNYMaskBan

“Penalizing mask-wearing, even through sentencing enhancements, still punishes people for protecting their health and will disproportionately impact overpoliced communities.” Grateful to @lauralew105.bsky.social & @prismreports.org for covering the dangers of anti-mask legislation. #NoNYMaskBan

“It’s frustrating that the groups that are supposed to protect Jews are making excuses for people in high positions of power doing Nazi salutes, & at the same time, they’re pushing laws that will endanger millions of New Yorkers and acting like that will protect us.” prismreports.org/2025/05/05/n...

“It’s reassuring to see that Hochul’s proposal to create a new crime of ‘masked harassment’ has been dropped,” said Dr. Oni Blackstock... “[But][e]ven proposals like this can have a chilling effect. It risks casting doubt on masks as a legitimate and necessary public health tool.”

My latest, on the New York state budget and the governor's stymied push for a mask ban. @prismreports.org As @jabaribrisport.bsky.social put it: “Restricting voluntary masking in public is truly unconscionable.... it’s clearly not about public safety." prismreports.org/2025/05/05/n...

Both Trump and @governor.ny.gov are pushing anti-mask policies. Far-right media is celebrating Hochul’s plan because it will increase punishments for “obstructing traffic.” How can Democrats expect voters to trust them to oppose Trump when they’re signing on to his playbook?

Reminder: There's still time to get the anti-mask policy out of the New York state budget. Call your state senator first thing Monday. bit.ly/no-mask-ban

Let’s do something

New York Doctors Coalition, New York State Academy of Family Physicians, New York State American Academy of Pediatrics, & over 300 physicians & other healthcare & public health workers voiced their opposition to NY's proposed mask bans earlier this year. #NoNYMaskBan www.nydocs.org/our-work/no-...

Repost the quoted tweet today to help us get more calls!

📢 Call now and tell your reps to "speak up in conference and vocally oppose any legislation that penalizes masking in the budget or beyond, including sentencing enhancements." #NoNYMaskBan

Tell your NY legislators to "speak up in conference and vocally oppose any legislation that penalizes masking in the budget or beyond, including sentencing enhancements." #NoNYMaskBan bsky.app/profile/jews...

There is still time to call *today,* 4/30! Please consider calling your New York reps to share your support for #NoNYMaskBan.

📢 Call now and tell your reps to "speak up in conference and vocally oppose any legislation that penalizes masking in the budget or beyond, including sentencing enhancements." #NoNYMaskBan

⚠️ URGENT ACTION 4/29: The budget is NOT final. We need MASSIVE opposition while there's still time. ➡️ Call your reps to get anti-mask language OUT before a vote. ➡️ Ask 3 friends to call too! Full toolkit + contacts: bit.ly/no-mask-ban Use the new script below ⬇️

🚨 CALL NOW: NY’s anti-mask policy can still be STOPPED, but we’re running out of time. 🗣 Tell your state senator: “NO anti-mask policies in the budget. Tell leadership to leave it OUT.” ⚠️ UPDATED SCRIPT BELOW ⬇️

Called my NY State Senator, Assemblymember, as well as Assembly Speaker, Senate Majority Leader, and Governor and urged them not to include anti-mask policy in the state budget! Masks should not be criminalized. Budget isn't over yet. New Yorkers, have you called? #NoNYMaskBan

You said it! We need some more folks to join the @bendthearc.bsky.social @jfrejnyc.bsky.social #NoNYmaskBan phone zap at noon so we can keep this out of the state budget. Down to the wire! bit.ly/right2maskNY

If you’re not fighting against mask bans because you think they “only” apply to those committing crimes… consider the following: Who decides who’s committing a crime? The police. POC who mask will be disproportionately targeted. Who decides if your medical exemption is “good enough”? Police 🧵

There’s still time to voice opposition to New York’s mask ban. Criminalizing a medical device will be devastating to disabled and marginalized individuals (not to mention anyone who values their health & wants to avoid covid infection). Mask bans don’t stop crime. They put lives in danger.

Gov. Hochul announced a budget “agreement” that could effectively criminalize masking and protest in New York. She’s hoping we’ll give up. But there is NO deal yet. Join us Weds at noon for a #NoNYmaskBan phone zap! bit.ly/DontCrimMasks

🚨 CALL NOW: NY’s anti-mask policy can still be STOPPED, but we’re running out of time. 🗣 Tell your state senator: “NO anti-mask policies in the budget. Tell leadership to leave it OUT.” ⚠️ UPDATED SCRIPT BELOW ⬇️

New Yorkers, keep calling! #NoNYMaskBan Find your NYS Senator: www.nysenate.gov/find-my-sena... Find your NYS Assemblymember: nyassembly.gov/mem/search/ Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie: 518-455-3791 Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins: 518-455-2585 Governor Hochul: 518-474-8390

🚨 URGENT: Hochul announced a budget “agreement” that criminalizes masks, but IT’S NOT FINAL! The budget has NOT passed, and we can still beat this. She’s hoping we’ll give up. We’re not going to. TAKE ACTION ⬇️

🚨 Hochul announced a budget deal that criminalizes masks — but IT’S NOT FINAL. Even she admits there are still details to work out. She’s hoping we’ll give up. We’re not going to. This is putting vulnerable New Yorkers at risk. KEEP CALLING. #NoNYMaskBan

Keep calling. We can still fight this.

NY State Budget is not final yet. New Yorkers, keep calling your NY State Senators and Assemblymembers and urge them not to pass any anti-mask policies in the state budget! #NoNYMaskBan

“Making graffiti” is a class A misdemeanor in New York. So if you’re tagging a wall, or making a mural without permission, and wearing a mask while you do it, and you get caught, they get to beef up their charges against you.

Keep calling. This isn’t over until the ink is dry.

New Yorkers, keep calling your NY State Senator and Assemblymember and urge them not to include any anti-mask legislation or mask restrictions in the state budget! #NoNYMaskBan

It is so unbelievably short-sighted for Democrats to be passing anti-protest legislation at this time. #NoNYMaskBan

It is not okay such a controversial policy such as criminalizing masks is being done behind closed doors in the state budget. This policy should be done through legislation where the public has more of an opportunity to weigh in. New Yorkers, budget is not final. Keep calling! #NoNYMaskBan

According to the NLG, here are some class A misdemeanors which protestors can be charged with. If they are wearing a mask, they would receive heavier sentences according to the new charge passed by NY Democrats.

If you live in NY, please contact your NY State Senator and Assemblymember's office TODAY and tell them #NoNYMaskBan! Masks should not be criminalized or restricted. No anti-mask polices should be included in state budget. NY budget is down to the wire and calls and emails TODAY are essential.

Dr. Omer Awan emphasized the essential role masks play in protecting people from deadly infectious diseases and air pollution on @forbes.com bit.ly/ForbesOnMask... Any forms of restrictions will embolden anti-masking. Write: bit.ly/SaveMyRightT... Annotation: www.instagram.com/p/DJABypXPGB...

⏰ TIME SENSITIVE: Call today to stop NY's mask ban! Hochul is STILL trying to ban masks. Lawmakers are exhausted. The budget is almost done. That's when bad policies slip through. We’ve made huge progress, we must keep the pressure on to win! Toolkit: bit.ly/no-mask-ban 🧵1/4

It’s been a roller coaster of a week. Now with the end in sight, after mobilizing hundreds of folks making thousands of calls, we’re looking forward to Shabbat. Have a restful Shabbos, and let’s get back to it next week. #NoNYMaskBan

We're so close to getting this nonsense out of the budget! Keep calling your elected officials!

New York mask ban update: Our advocacy efforts are working! Gov Hochul is failing at convincing lawmakers to include a proposal that criminalizes masking in the budget, and some legislative officials predict it will be dropped from budget talks as negotiations drag on. Keep calling your electeds!

🏛️ Visit Your Reps’ Offices Today If your Assembly Member or State Senator is a Democrat, stop by their district office during office hours. No appointment is needed. Bring our letter and materials. Your presence alone sends a message. 📩 DM us for info packet + support. 🧵3/5

☎️ CALL your Assembly Member + State Senator NOW. Tell them NO to any budget language that penalizes masking (including sentencing enhancements). They need to hear from us ASAP. Updated script in the image below. 🧵2/5

Urgent action items in here ⬇️