Students and Supporters Rally Near Columbia for Ban on Masked Protesting

A group of around 120 protesters gathered near Columbia University in New York City last week, urging American college campuses to ban the use of face coverings during protests. The rally was organized by the grassroots civil-rights group End Jew Hatred, which recently launched the "unmask the hate" initiative aimed at pushing for legislation to prohibit masks at demonstrations both on and off campus.

The call for a mask ban comes in response to a series of anti-Israel protests that swept across North American campuses last spring, with Columbia University being a significant hotspot. In April, Columbia’s former president, Minouche Shafik, had to involve the police to remove anti-Israel vandals who had occupied Hamilton Hall. However, many of those involved faced little to no legal repercussions, leading to concerns about accountability.

Michelle Ahdoot, director of strategy and programming at End Jew Hatred, highlighted the dangers posed by masked protesters during the rally. “Masked pro-Hamas agitators were disruptive and scared students as they were walking to their classes on campus,” she said, arguing that supporting a mask ban is a genuine civil-rights issue that upholds democratic values. "There is no value for civil rights when we see lawless pro-Hamas students create havoc with impunity," Ahdoot added.

The recent surge in masked, pro-Hamas demonstrations inspired the Nassau County Legislature on Long Island to enact the Mask Transparency Act—the first such law since the COVID-19 pandemic. The legislation, which criminalizes using masks to hide one's identity during protests, has been lauded as a necessary step to protect the public from violence and intimidation.

Mazi Pilip, a Nassau County legislator and IDF veteran, described the Mask Transparency Act as "common-sense" legislation. She suggested that Columbia University could implement a similar policy to protect its students. “Our legislation specifically makes an exception for masks worn for health or religious reasons, so there is no reason it cannot be implemented in a campus environment,” Pilip explained.

Columbia students at the rally echoed these sentiments, expressing concerns that protests could escalate as the new semester begins. Maya Zuckerman, a freshman, shared her apprehension, noting that groups like Students for Justice in Palestine had already disrupted university events. “Even though there are all these people who are trying to drive us off campus, Jewish students here just don’t want to leave and give up on a great education,” Zuckerman said.

Shai Davidai, a professor at Columbia Business School and a vocal critic of the university's tolerance of antisemitism, addressed the rally, advocating for the mask ban as a reasonable measure to curb campus violence. “If protesters on campus want to be hateful, they have the freedom of speech to do so,” Davidai said. “But they must show us who they are.”

The rally underscored a broader concern about rising antisemitism on college campuses and the need for measures that ensure accountability. David Lederer, a junior at Columbia, expressed support for the mask ban, saying it would bring much-needed consequences for disruptive behavior. "It was a horror show for Jewish students on campus. You really felt like you were not welcome," he said.

Gerard Filitti, senior counsel at the Lawfare Project, argued that private universities like Columbia have the authority to enforce such regulations without waiting for state intervention. “When your identity is known, the appeal of threatening or intimidating people significantly decreases,” Filitti noted. “It is anonymity which fuels violence because those values are not appreciated in our society.”

As the new semester begins, the call for a ban on masked protesting reflects a growing movement to protect free speech and ensure the safety of all students on campus.

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