Jews for Mask Rights
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jews4maskrights.bsky.social
Jews for Mask Rights
@jews4maskrights.bsky.social
710 followers 170 following 200 posts
We are Jewish leaders and community members united by the belief that everyone has the right to protect their health. Sign our open letter! #NoNYMaskBan JewsForMaskRights.com
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jews4maskrights.bsky.social
Regarding mask bans as a campaign platform in the 2025 NYC Democratic Mayoral Primary.

#NoNYMaskBan
Andrew Cuomo and Whitney Tilson both include mask bans in their NYC mayoral race platforms. As Jewish New Yorkers specifically united against mask bans, we remain firmly opposed to these policies, and think anyone pushing a mask ban should not be mayor. Jews deserve real, effective responses to antisemitism — not to be exploited as political pawns to justify policies that endanger all New Yorkers. Given uncertain vaccine access, emerging COVID variants, rising authoritarianism, and hazardous air quality, promoting mask bans is dangerous and irresponsible. - Jews for Mask Rights Early voting is currently underway. You can vote today, June 20th, until 4pm. Polls are open over the weekend from 9am to 5pm. Election Day is Tuesday, June 24th, and polls are open from 6am to 9pm.
June 20, 2025 at 7:25 PM
jews4maskrights.bsky.social
“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, and at the same time, they’re pushing laws that will endanger millions of New Yorkers and acting like that will protect us,” said the Jews for Mask Rights spokesperson. She suggested other measures that would address antisemitism and crime, such as bystander intervention training, which she said helped her some years ago when someone had yelled antisemitic slurs at her in the street. “Mask bans don’t stop antisemitism—they distract from it,” she added. “It’s like putting a Band-Aid on a flood. You can’t fight antisemitism with superficial laws.”
May 6, 2025 at 4:07 PM
jews4maskrights.bsky.social
⚠️ 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 ⬇️
⚠️URGENT CALL TO ACTION 4/29⚠️ STOP ANTI-MASK NY LAW We need MASSIVE opposition to the proposed budget language while we can still fight it: CALL your state senator first. See bit.ly/no-mask-ban for full list of contacts. ASK 3 friends to call to amplify our impact. “Hi my name is [Name], and I’m calling as a constituent to urge [official] to oppose any policy that penalizes masking in the budget or beyond, including Hochul’s latest update. This law will be largely used against BIPOC, undocumented, and disabled New Yorkers. In a moment of rising authoritarianism, Dems must not allow policies that attack our civil liberties.” Tell us what they say: bit.ly/mask-ban-debrief
April 29, 2025 at 7:04 PM
jews4maskrights.bsky.social
🚨 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 ⬇️
⚠️UPDATED CALLS TO ACTION 4/29⚠️ CALL NOW: Say NO to NY’s Anti-Mask Budget Hochul claimed there’s a budget deal — but there’s no final agreement yet. That means the anti-mask policy can still be stopped. → Call your State Senator NOW!* → Tell them: No anti-mask policies in the budget. Tell leadership to LEAVE IT OUT. This is crunch time. Keep the pressure on. 🔗Toolkit: bit.ly/no-mask-ban *If you have time, call your Assembly Member, the Senate Majority Leader, and the Assembly Speaker. More in toolkit. CALL SCRIPT →
April 29, 2025 at 7:04 PM
jews4maskrights.bsky.social
We need MASSIVE opposition to the proposed budget language in the next 24 hours:
CALL your state senator/AM. 
usa.gov/elected-officials
ASK 3 friends to call to amplify our impact.
URGENT: TAKE ACTION We need MASSIVE opposition to the proposed budget language in the next 24 hours: CALL your state senator/AM. 
usa.gov/elected-officials ASK 3 friends to call to amplify our impact. Hi, my name is [Name], and I’m calling as a constituent to urge [official] to oppose any policy that penalizes masking in the budget or beyond, including Hochul’s latest update. This law will be largely used against BIPOC, undocumented, and disabled New Yorkers. In a moment of rising authoritarianism, Dems must not vote for policies that attack our freedoms. Can we count on [official] to vote NO on a budget that includes anti-mask policies?
April 29, 2025 at 2:42 PM
jews4maskrights.bsky.social
🚨 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 ⬇️
🚨URGENT 4/29: LAST CHANCE TO STOP ANTI-MASK POLICY IN NY 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. Update 4/29: Things are moving quickly, but it’s not over until the ink is dry. Tell your electeds to VOTE NO.
April 29, 2025 at 2:42 PM
jews4maskrights.bsky.social
🚨 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
Screenshot of a tweet from Jack Arpey @jack_arpey reading: Gov. Hochul in the Red Room announcing a “general agreement” on the state budget, says some “final details” are still to be worked out. Above a photograph of Gov. Hochul.
April 29, 2025 at 1:51 AM
jews4maskrights.bsky.social
⚡️TAKE ACTION TODAY

📞Call the governor now at (518) 474-8390.

☎️Call your assembly member + state senator. usa.gov/elected-offi...

(If you have time, call leaders Stewart-Cousins and Heastie too.🤳)

🧵2/4
Blue background with white text across the top highlighted in red reads: TAKE ACTION TODAY Smaller white text on blue background below reads: 1. Call the governor now at (518) 474-8390 2. Call your assembly member + state senator. usa.gov/elected-officials (If you have time, call leaders Stewart-Cousins and Heastie too.) Black text on a white square over the blue background reads: Hi, my name is [Name], and I’m calling as a constituent to urge [official] to oppose any policy that penalizes masking in the budget or beyond, including sentencing enhancements. These policies punish people for protecting their health and ultimately harm marginalized communities that are already overpoliced. Can we count on [official] to [tell leadership to] leave anti-mask policies out of the budget entirely? Thank you! Black text below on pink oval reads Toolkit: bit.ly/no-mask-ban
April 28, 2025 at 5:09 PM
jews4maskrights.bsky.social
⏰ 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
Blue background with white text highlighted in red across top: Hochul is STILL trying to ban masks in NY. Smaller white text below reads: Lawmakers are exhausted. The budget is almost done. And that's exactly when bad policies slip through. We’ve made so much progress, but we can only win if we keep the pressure on during crunch time. Below that is a tweet from Benadette Hogan @bern_hogan which reads: Upshot budget isn't done: @GovHochul says she needs more days to tie up loose ends, no overall spending total (she proposed $252B) &She'll slim down $3B checks to NYers, mask ban will be approved in some form & total $ may change anyways thanks to fed $ uncertainty.
April 28, 2025 at 5:08 PM
jews4maskrights.bsky.social
☎️ 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
Call to Say NO Mask Ban! Call your assembly member + state senator ASAP. They need to know we oppose the new language too. (If you have time, call leaders Stewart-Cousins and Heastie too.) Hi, my name is [Name], and I’m calling as a constituent to urge [official] to oppose any policy that penalizes masking in the budget or beyond, including sentencing enhancements. These policies punish people for protecting their health and ultimately harms marginalized communities that are already overpoliced. Can we count on [official] to tell leadership to leave anti-mask policies out of the budget entirely? Thank you! DM us and tell us how it goes!
April 24, 2025 at 3:25 AM
jews4maskrights.bsky.social
No matter what it's called, anti-mask legislation is inherently discriminatory and dangerous. Tell your electeds: keep it out of the budget and stop pushing policies that restrict our rights.

☎️Calling Toolkit: www.jewsformaskrights.com/resources/ma...

#NoNYMaskBan
Call to Stop NY’s Mask Ban Call your Assembly Member + State Senator today. Identify yourself as a constituent. Urge them to oppose “any language that criminalizes masking” in the budget and beyond. (A six-figure campaign is pushing the line that it’s “not a mask ban,” so clarity is key.) Ask them to urge their Conference Leader to oppose it in budget negotiations. Make a personal appeal and use a strong supporting argument. Ask their position and request a follow-up. Call Now: bit.ly/no-mask-ban Already called? Great! Follow up to make sure they know it’s still a priority.
April 16, 2025 at 3:51 PM
jews4maskrights.bsky.social
Skoufis claims he “would never actually advance a mask ban” – except he did just that last May. Skoufis co-sponsored S9867, a blanket ban on mask use during “lawful assemblies” with extremely limited and unenforceable exemptions.
Tweet from MaskTogetherAmerica reading "NY Anti-Mask Bill (S9867/A10057A)gives people gathering exemption for mask-use to protect health, but ONLY during a PH Emergency! No! People mask up for pollution, allergies, wildfires, flu, COVID, any contagious diseases and intolerances to chemicals/fragrances all year round🧵" Above an image of the bill text on a black background. White block letters above the bill read "NY Anti-Mask Bill gives people gathering an exemption to use masks to protect health, but ONLY during a Public health emergency!" Below the bill, text reads "Disabled, elderly and immunocompromised will lose their 1st Amendment rights. #StopMaskBans"
April 16, 2025 at 3:42 PM
jews4maskrights.bsky.social
Call it a mask ban or a “mask limitation,” the effect is the same: it makes masking more dangerous.

Co-author of NY’s anti-mask legislation
@jamesskoufis.bsky.social went on
@spectrumnewsny1.bsky.social
to misrepresent his bill, fixating on what people call it instead of addressing concerns.🧵
Screenshot of Spectrum News with banner "Sen Skoufis discusses proposed mask ban"
April 16, 2025 at 3:27 PM
jews4maskrights.bsky.social
We could be searching the neighborhood grocery stores for KfP margarine. Instead, we’re fighting the Governor over a mask ban she claims will keep us safe. #NoNYMaskBan
Passover 2025 To Do List Eat all the leftover granola Bars  Call my Assembly Member to oppose mask bans in New York Figure out replacement frogs for the plague bag Call my State Senator to oppose mask bans in New York Make a 10pm run to Pomegranate  Sign the @Jews4MaskRights open letter against mask bans Track down potato kugel that actually has gebrokts Ask 3 friends to call their electeds to say #NoNYMaskBan
April 8, 2025 at 4:07 PM
jews4maskrights.bsky.social
If you're Jewish and want to take an extra stand against mask bans, sign our open letter: jewsformaskrights.com

Not Jewish? Spread the word! We need as many signatures as possible to show widespread opposition.
Why would anyone want to ban masks??? Since summer 2024, some NY Democrats have pushed mask bans as measures for “Jewish safety.” But using Jews to justify rolling back civil rights doesn’t make us safe. It makes us scapegoats. And it hurts everyone. That’s why we launched Jews for Mask Rights. Our open letter has been signed by 2,500 Jews, including 310+ Jewish leaders and 80+ clergy. We’re an independent group of high-risk and disabled Jewish volunteers going against six-figure ad campaigns.* Help us hit our next goal. Sign and share today! Sign now: bit.ly/j4mr *While prepping for Pesach, no less!
April 8, 2025 at 3:23 PM
jews4maskrights.bsky.social
We’re flooding the phone lines to say: #NoNYMaskBanCall today to stop anti-mask laws in New York state. Every call counts. Join a phone bank this week! jewsformaskrights.com/ny-budget-ma...
CALL TO ACTION Block Hochul’s Mask Ban Push Governor Hochul is still trying to force an unpopular mask ban into the state budget despite massive opposition. We’re not backing down. We’re flooding the phone lines to say: NO MASK BAN. Call TODAY to stop anti-mask laws in New York state. Every call counts. Join phone banks & TAKE ACTION bit.ly/budget-mask-ban Ask your friends! The more calls, the louder we are! @jews4maskrights
April 8, 2025 at 3:23 PM
jews4maskrights.bsky.social
Keep the calls coming! Remember to specify “any language that would criminalize masking” in the budget and beyond. (Some lawmakers claim to oppose “mask bans” but still back these laws.)
Who to Call These are listed by priority. You don’t have to call them all, but if you have time, go down the list! 1 Your Assembly Member usa.gov/elected-officials 2 Your State Senator usa.gov/elected-officials 3 Speaker of the Assembly 
Carl Heastie 518-455-3791 4 Senate Majority Leader 
Andrea Stewart-Cousins 518-455-2585 Call Now: bit.ly/no-mask-ban
April 8, 2025 at 3:23 PM
jews4maskrights.bsky.social
New York's budget is late, partly because Hochul is trying to force through unpopular policies like a mask ban. Unions, healthcare workers, civil rights groups, and many legislators are opposing the ban.
But she hasn’t backed down – so we can’t either.
#NoNYMaskBan 🧵
🚨 DEADLINE EXTENDED 🚨 KEEP CALLING TO STOP NY'S MASK BAN Gov Hochul is pushing dangerous anti-mask policy in the state budget, which is already overdue. This proposal relies on biased enforcement and criminalizes public health. Call your legislators TODAY! Tell them to reject this in the budget. Call Now: bit.ly/no-mask-ban
April 8, 2025 at 3:23 PM
jews4maskrights.bsky.social
They claim it's popular based on a poll from their own PR firm (shared in a Post exclusive, like most of their press) with cherry-picked stats and confusing framing. No questions, numbers, or methods. That’s not proof. That’s PR. Meanwhile, our letter shows the opposite.
Examples of multiple “exclusives” and favorable, inflammatory pro-ban coverage from the New York Post. One article highlights a poll showing that “a staggering 75% of voters support a mask ban,” conducted by Mercury Public Affairs for the civil rights coalition #UnMaskHateNY. The story frames the ban as a way to “help uncover hate and criminality.” Another editorial, titled “Lefty loons’ ridiculous reason not to restore NY’s anti-masking law,” mocks opponents of the legislation and claims that Democrats are “protecting criminals, antisemites and Antifa radicals – in the name of preventing police oppression of blacks.” A third quote notes that ADL CEO Jonathan Greenblatt, “speaking at a Post editorial-board meeting,” prioritized the anti-mask bill and dismissed concerns raised by civil libertarians that it would stifle protest rights. Nearly 300 Jewish Leaders, 100 Organizations Oppose New York Mask Bans Jan 13 Today, Jews for Mask Rights, alongside the New York Civil Liberties Union (NYCLU) and the New York Doctors Coalition, delivered our open letter to New York lawmakers calling on them to reject any legislation banning masks. Nearly 300 Jewish leaders oppose mask bans. More than 2,200 Jewish individuals signed our open letter, including 75 clergy members and 70 leaders of Jewish organizations. We collected all signatures solely through word-of-mouth and unpaid social media outreach. This was just our first milestone. If you’d like to add your name, you can do so here. Below is the full press release from NYCLU: NEW YORK, NY – Today, the New York Civil Liberties Union (NYCLU), Jews for Mask Rights, and New York Doctors Coalition sent letters to Governor Hochul, President Pro Tempore Stewart-Cousins, and Speaker Heastie calling on them to ensure no legislation banning masks advances in New York State this session
April 7, 2025 at 9:03 PM
jews4maskrights.bsky.social
Even though the campaign’s new ads emphasize that some masks are more acceptable than others, campaigners for the bill repeatedly refer to it as a mask ban. The bill was recently rewritten, but the new exemptions don’t address the core issues with criminalizing masks.
Tweet from UnmaskhateNY: "Help is on the way: a new bill introduced in Albany will #UnMaskHate in New York once and for all. Civil rights leaders, pastors, and lawmakers, health and safety experts agree. Go to UnMaskHateNY.org and add your name. RT if you agree!" (There are only 10 RTs) In the center, overlaid on a photo of a press conference with a group of speakers and officials: “Legislation to ban masking statewide – with health and safety carve-outs – will be introduced today in Albany with the support of a broad coalition of civil rights and faith leaders” A large blue arrow is also drawn pointing to the phrase: “Legislation to ban masking statewide”
April 7, 2025 at 9:00 PM
jews4maskrights.bsky.social
he group behind this policy now insists it’s not a mask ban. But the effect is the same as a ban: it makes mask-wearing more dangerous. Enforcement would depend on how someone interprets your intent – and if police don’t believe you, no exemption will protect you.
Overlay text on the right: Screenshot of an ad in a Politico news roundup Politico newsletter ad excerpt: A message from #UnmaskHateNY: FIGHTING MASK MISCONCEPTIONS — #UnMaskHateNY has launched a new major ad campaign backing anti-masked harassment measures in Hochul’s budget. The “Fine, Not Fine” ad clarifies the language would not ban masks, but targets those using masks for anonymous intimidation. This six-figure TV and digital push, supported by civil rights groups and faith leaders, addresses a rise in masked intimidation across New York. Learn more at http://www.unmaskhateny.org.
April 7, 2025 at 8:57 PM
jews4maskrights.bsky.social
Billboard trucks are circling Albany to promote a supposedly “popular” mask ban. If this policy is so popular, why spend six figures marketing it? Let’s talk about UnmaskHateNY’s misleading ads and how we can stop anti-mask legislation from passing. 🧵
Screenshot of a tweet from April 2, 2025 at 12:11am from @KaitlynnLisa reading: Theres a pro mask ban digital ad campaign running outside the Capital on State Street -- one of Hochul's core priorities she's holding the line on in budget talks Below are photos of a Black truck with video panels on the sides that read in White and Red block text: Know the Facts -- Wearing a mask is perfectly fine, unless you're engaging in intimidating, harassing, or threatening activity. It's That simple. #UnmaskHate
April 7, 2025 at 8:55 PM
jews4maskrights.bsky.social
Proof from @gothamist.com that our calls are working! Can you squeeze in one more call before the weekend?

Toolkit: bit.ly/no-mask-ban
“ In the context of the Trump administration, [concerns over] things like proposals to … put limits on people's ability for masks in public definitely grow,” Krueger said. “I hear from a huge chunk of people in my district – they just want to wear masks for health and safety reasons, and they don't understand how someone will know what the difference is between them and someone who's hypothetically wearing a mask to rob a bank.”
April 4, 2025 at 6:28 PM
jews4maskrights.bsky.social
Mask ban lobbyists announced another 6-figure campaign to drum up support for their "popular" proposal. They call concerns "misinformation" but have yet to address any. How can the NYPD know whose mask is “legitimate”? How can they judge someone's intent without bias?
The 30-second ad will be shown this week on cable TV and digital platforms. The campaign comes as New York Governor Kathy Hochul attempts to pass the legislation with the state budget. The New York branch of the American Civil Liberties Union put out a statement this month that called the legislation a “mask ban” and claimed it would “open the floodgates to disproportionate enforcement.”
April 1, 2025 at 3:42 PM
jews4maskrights.bsky.social
Grow our impact:
1. Email lists you're a part of (community, activist, etc) + ask them to call!
2. Contact orgs you support and ask them to engage their members and speak up.
3. If you're Jewish: Sign the letter against mask bans in our name, and ask your friends to sign too.
BUDGET DUE TODAY! CALL NOW! We Need Your Help to Stop New York’s Mask Ban We’re in the final stretch. Governor Hochul and lawmakers in Albany are forcing a mask ban in the state budget. To stop it, we need to ramp up the pressure – and we need your help to do it. Increase Your Impact 1. Email lists you're a part of (community, activist, religious, etc) and ask them to call! 2. Contact organizations you support and ask them to engage their members and speak up. 3. If you're Jewish: Sign the open letter against mask bans being done in our name – and ask your friends to sign too: bit.ly/j4mr Learn more about mask bans: bit.ly/budget-mask-ban Call your state reps with the call tool: bit.ly/no-mask-ban
March 31, 2025 at 2:24 PM