COLUMBUS – Protesters would no longer be allowed to hide their faces if a state House bill becomes law.
The legislation would make it a crime to wear a mask with the intent of obstructing the law, the rights of others or a person’s “legal duty.”
Butler County Sheriff Doug Jones says he approached Rep. Bill Seitz (R-Cincinnati) about his concerns in the wake of the clashes in Charlottesville, Va., this summer.
“I believe that it’s not good when people throw rocks and they assault people and you can’t film or take pictures of who they are,” he said. “So I asked, ‘Could we get some legislation introduced that would at least start with the masks?’ ”
Seitz co-sponsored the bill with Rep. George Lang (R-West Chester).
Lee Thompson of Cleveland with Refuse Fascism, a movement opposing the Trump presidency, is among those who view the bill as a tool against left-leaning activist groups.
“This is just one of many of these kinds of laws that are either being proposed or being passed that specifically are targeting people protesting,” she said.
If the bill becomes law, Ohio would join the ranks of states with broader anti-mask laws.