An Oklahoma state legislator is already being criticized for introducing an amendment to a 1923 law that would essentially make it illegal to conceal your face by wearing a hoodie.
The original law stems from an attempt by authorities to restrict the criminal activities of the Ku Klux Klan, which conducted rallies and illegal acts in white costumes behind masks.
The old law states that it is illegal in Oklahoma “to wear a mask, hood or covering, which conceals the identity of the wearer during the commission of a crime or for the purpose of coercion, intimidation or harassment.” The proposal by Senator Don Barrington would update the current law on the books relating to masks, hoods and disguises.
The law would make illegal in Oklahoma to A) “twear a mask, hood or covering, which conceals the identity of the wearer during the commission of a crime or for the purpose of coercion, intimidation or harassment,” or B) to intentionally conceal his or her identity in a public place by means of a robe, mask, or other disguise.”
The penalties for breaking the law could be fines from $50 to $500, and/or a jail term of up to one year.
Barrington said the amendment is intended to improve the safety of public spaces and prevent people from harassing someone in public while concealing their identities. It would exclude people wearing a mask, hood or covering because of weather, religious beliefs, parades or Halloween celebrations.
The discussion points out the irony that the original law was enacted to protect minorities from being targeted racially by the Klan, while the updated amendment could make it easy to target minorities in the community just for wearing a hoodie.
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