The Maryland office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) announced today that it has joined Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP) Baltimore and other faith-based groups and advocacy organizations in signing on to a letter urging the Maryland General Assembly to oppose Senate Bill 709/House Bill 1081, the “Unmask Hate Act.”
While the bill aims to prohibit the act of masking while allegedly harassing or intimidating individuals, advocates are concerned it undermines civil liberties, risks chilling free speech and disproportionately targets marginalized communities.
SEE THE LETTER.
The letter reads in part:
“We the undersigned are writing to express our strong opposition to Senate Bill 709/House Bill 1081 the “Unmask Hate Act.” While we share the goal of preventing harassment and intimidation, this bill could too easily be exploited to function as a blanket prohibition on wearing masks at protests. It undermines the constitutionally protected rights of individuals to peacefully assemble and express their views, particularly in contexts where they may need protection from respiratory illness, doxxing, harassment, or violence.”
“The broad language of the bill has raised significant concerns that it would risk infringing on the rights of people who wear masks for various legitimate reasons, including religious practices, personal protection, and cultural celebrations,” said CAIR’s Maryland Director Zainab Chaudry. “We are concerned that this bill could lead to increased racial and religious profiling and could be exploited to pose a significant threat to freedom of expression.”
“The police are not qualified to decide who needs to mask in public,” said Nikki Morse, a Jewish organizer with JVP Action who lives in Baltimore. “This bill will chill free speech and expose people to unnecessary risks of doxxing, harassment, and respiratory illness.”
The letter calls upon the Maryland General Assembly to reconsider the implications of this legislation and uphold the rights of all Marylanders. The civil rights group and its partners are committed to advocating for policies that foster inclusion, respect, and understanding among diverse communities.
CAIR is America’s largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance understanding of Islam, protect civil rights, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
END
CONTACT: CAIR Maryland Director Zainab Chaudry, zchaudry@cair.com, 410-971-6062; CAIR Maryland Outreach Coordinator Kimberly Syuardi, ksyuardi@cair.com, 202-850-9293