S.T.O.P. Condemns NYC Mask Ban, Says Mayor Needs To Face Facts On Surveillance

S.T.O.P. condemns Mayor Eric Adams’ proposal to ban masks following the NYPD’s long-running manhunt after the killing of the United Healthcare CEO.

View this email in your browser For Immediate Release S.T.O.P. Condemns NYC Mask Ban, Says Mayor Needs To Face Facts On Surveillance (New York, NY, 12/10/2024) - Today, the Surveillance Technology Oversight Project (S.T.O.P.), a New York-based privacy and civil rights group, condemns Mayor Eric Adams' proposal to ban masks following the NYPD’s long-running manhunt after the killing of United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson. The civil rights group objected that a mask ban would never have stopped Thompson’s killing, but it would put countless immunocompromised New Yorkers at risk. The statement came as similar mask bans across the country have been condemned for undermining public health and public safety. SEE: Fox 5 New York - Adams pushes for mask ban after CEO murder arrest https://www.fox5ny.com/video/1559610 Forbes - Mask Bans Grow, Threatening Public Health And Immunocompromised People https://www.forbes.com/sites/judystone/2024/07/10/mask-bans-grow-threatening-public-health-and-immunocompromised-people/ “The Mayor needs to face the fact that mass surveillance will never keep New Yorkers safe,” said Surveillance Technology Oversight Project Executive Director Albert Fox Cahn.  “Thompson was shot in one of the most surveilled parts of the most surveilled cities in America, but his killer still shot him and fled. Every time these surveillance systems fail New Yorkers, we’re told that we just need more tracking, but banning masks will cost lives, not save them. Immunocompromised New Yorkers shouldn’t have to fear that protecting their health will endanger their freedom.” SEE: New York Amsterdam News - OP-ED: Mask bans make NY less safe https://amsterdamnews.com/news/2024/08/29/op-ed-mask-bans-make-ny-less-safe/ In June, the civil rights group warned that Governor Kathy Hochul’s proposed ban on masks and other face coverings in the New York City subway puts public safety theater ahead of public health and civil rights.  SEE: Press Release - S.T.O.P. Warns Hochul Mask Ban Jeopardizes Public Health, Civil Rights https://www.stopspying.org/latest-news/2024/6/18/stop-warns-hochul-mask-ban-jeopardizes-public-health-civil-rights The Surveillance Technology Oversight Project is a non-profit advocacy organization and legal services provider. S.T.O.P. litigates and advocates for privacy, fighting excessive local and state-level surveillance. Our work highlights the discriminatory impact of surveillance on Muslim Americans, immigrants, and communities of color. --END-- Copyright © 2021 Surveillance Technology Oversight Project, All rights reserved. Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.