To the editor: Los Angeles city leaders don't need to jump on the reactionary bandwagon and ban masks at protests.
COVID-19 cases are rising again and many people are very vulnerable. Los Angeles should encourage wearing masks in public, not limit it. People should be able to exercise their freedom of speech and expression, including in protests, while taking steps to protect their health and that of their loved ones.
Beyond that, people should have the right to wear a mask if they choose, even at a protest.
We know that people have experienced retaliation from employers and harassment from vigilantes for peacefully participating in activities protected by the First Amendment. The argument that wearing masks makes it harder for police to identify protesters who may commit illegal acts does not justify denying all protesters their rights.
It would probably also simplify things if all protesters were required to register in advance with their names and driver's licenses, but Mayor Karen Bass and other city leaders wouldn't propose that, would they?
In a free society, no individual has any obligation to make things easy for the police, who are there to serve the people, not the other way around. We must not allow the politics of fear to rule our city. We must defend freedom of speech.
Kathleen Brown, Los Angeles
..
To the editor: Although I think pro-Palestinian protesters wearing masks look cowardly, I don't think the practice should be banned.
However, in my opinion, Jews who were going to pray in the synagogue but were prevented from doing so because of the protest should file a civil suit for discrimination. It's one thing to peacefully protest in front of a synagogue, but when Jews are prevented from entering their place of worship, to me that is discrimination against a religious group.
Karen I. Frank, Los Angeles
