Earlier this summer, New York State Governor Kathy Hochul implemented a mask ban after masked pro-Palestine protesters began harassing people in public around New York City, and after other cities and counties followed suit, leading in the first arrest this week under the controversial mask ban law.
According to The New York Times18-year-old Wesslin Omar Ramirez Castillo was booked last Sunday (August 25) after police say he was spotted walking alone and wearing a mask on Spindle Road in Hicksville, Long Island. Although she did not participate in any protests or disturb anyone close to her, she did violate Nassau County's recent mask transparency law, which was passed earlier this month to combat anti-Semitic incidents that have increased in recent months due to anti-Semitism protests. conflict in Palestine.
Although wearing a mask is a misdemeanor, the investigation into Castillo revealed a bigger problem for the 18-year-old.
The New York Times states:
When officers arrived, they tackled Mr. Castillo and discovered a 14-inch knife in the waistband of his pants, the department said in a statement Tuesday. He was charged Monday with various offenses, including criminal possession of a weapon and violating the mask law.
“Our officers were able to use the mask ban legislation as well as other factors to stop and question a person who was carrying a gun with the intent to engage in a robbery,” Mr. Blakeman said in a statement. “The passage of this law has given the police another tool to stop this dangerous criminal.”
Scott Banks, the lead attorney for the Legal Aid Society of Nassau County, said Legal Aid represented Mr. Castillo. Mr. Banks declined to comment on the case.
Castillo played himself wearing a ski mask (in August) and carrying a deadly weapon. Everyone knows you either have one or the other when you walk the streets because people will assume that if you're wearing a mask (especially in the summer) you might have something else on. In this case they were right. SMH.
But how does the human stop and the frisks show nothing, though?
While there are exceptions for wearing a mask in public (religious or health reasons), anyone else could be subject to a $1,000 fine, a year in jail, or both.