MINEOLA, New York (WABC) – Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman signed the county’s controversial mask ban into law on Wednesday.

He will sign the bill during a ceremony in Mineola.

Blakeman will be joined by several hate crime victims as well as advocates, community members and lawmakers, including Nassau Rep. Mazi Pilip, who sponsored the bill.

The so-called Mask Transparency Act criminalizes the wearing of a mask “for the purpose of concealing the identity of a person in a public place” as well as the wearing of a mask on private property without the consent of the owner or tenant.

(Video from previous report)

This does not apply to “face coverings” worn for medical or religious reasons. A misdemeanor carries a fine of $1,000, up to one year in prison, or both.

The New York Civil Liberties Union is one of the groups opposing the ban. It states, among other things:

“In New York, legislation is being considered that would prohibit the wearing of masks in public in an effort to prevent controversial speech and protests. Such bans endanger the health and safety of New Yorkers, pose the risk of selective and racially motivated enforcement, and undermine protections for those who participate in peaceful demonstrations and may express unpopular political opinions.”

The law has been a fixture during the pandemic, arguing that masks not worn for health or religious reasons “are often used as a pretext for harassing, threatening or criminal behavior.”

Protesters at pro-Palestinian demonstrations have become more common in wearing masks, prompting Mayor Eric Adams and Governor Kathy Hochul to call for restrictions on the subway and other venues to crack down on anti-Semitic acts. The NAACP New York State Conference, the National Urban League and the Anti-Defamation League have all raised questions about the recent “masked intimidation.”

The Nassau Police Department will train its officers to enforce the new legislation.

READ MORE: Nassau County lawmakers approve lease for Las Vegas Sands casino

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