Federal lawsuit challenges public face covering ban in Nassau County, New York
A New York City suburb's ban against public mask wearing was challenged in federal court on Thursday, alleging the law violates the Americans with Disabilities Act and needlessly opens health compromised individuals for ridicule.
A New York City suburb's ban against public mask wearing was challenged in federal court on Thursday, alleging the law violates the Americans with Disabilities Act and needlessly opens health compromised individuals for ridicule.
Nassau County, the bedroom community just east of New York City with nearly 1.4 million residents, last week officially banned wearing face coverings in public in what's believed to be the nation's first such prohibition.
"The Mask Ban discriminates against people with disabilities by depriving them of equal access to public life in Nassau County in violation of the United States Constitution, the New York State Constitution, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act," according to the complaint.
The statute provides exceptions for health and religion and plaintiffs even quoted the ban's clear carve outs: "This law shall not apply to facial coverings worn to protect the health and safety of the wearer, for religious or cultural purposes."
But the statute puts an undue burden on health-compromised Nassau County residents who shouldn't have to explain why they're wearing a mask outside, according to the class action complaint.
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