PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Philadelphia City Council passed a bill on Thursday banning ski masks in public places over the objections of opponents who testified that the ban would hurt young men of color who are most likely to wear the face coverings.
The bill specifies places where the masks cannot be worn, including mass transit and city property, and provides exceptions for religious items or winter sports, among others. Violators would be subject to $250 fines.
Saud Salahuddin, 19, was among nearly a dozen witnesses who urged council to vote against the ban, calling it discriminatory and unconstitutional.
“This item is a fashion statement. This item is a lot of things to a culture,” he testified. “I have a ski mask on. I didn’t cause any harm to anybody. I don’t plan on causing any harm to anybody.”
Attorney Tara Schiraldi compared a ban on ski masks to the 1940s ban on zoot suits. “The criminalization of fashion popular with Black and brown youth puts Philadelphia in terrible company.”
However, bill sponsor Councilmember Anthony Phillips was passionate in his defense of the legislation, which he said he introduced on behalf of constituents who fear rising levels of crime.
“Too many seniors have told me on the way to public places that they have felt unsafe as folks have hid their identities and created a sense of anxiety in the midst of historical crime levels,” he said.
The bill had 11 co-sponsors and most of Phillips’ colleagues, such as Jim Harrity, concurred that banning ski masks would make their communities feel safer. “The harsh reality is, in my neighborhood, in Kensington, there’s a reason to be scared of someone wearing a ski mask,” he said.
Councilmember Sharon Vaughn said she understood the objections but felt public safety would benefit. “I’m hoping this legislation will deter criminals from trying to commit crimes by wearing them,” she said, “and our community as a whole will feel safer because we will see less of them.”
Two members, Jaime Gauthier and Kendra Brooks, voted against the measure. It now goes to Mayor Jim Kenney for his signature. His office says he is still reviewing it.