If you have to wear a mask...

Photo: Michael Macor, SF Chronicle

If you are inclined to wear a mask to a political demonstration in the US, you are probably up to no good. 

A letter to the editor from yesterday's Chronicle:

Take off the mask

I am a longtime resident of downtown Oakland and have lived through many street demonstrations, most of them violent. Many of the protesters wear masks or towels over their face. Watching demonstrations on TV, I see this in other cities as well.

It seems to me that you would only wear an uncomfortable mask if you had in mind to commit a crime, such as throwing a brick at a police officer or smashing store windows. Even worse is looting or setting a fire.

Is there some way a city could pass an ordinance making it a misdemeanor to wear a mask during a demonstration? I guess it would be unconstitutional, but I’d like to know how some other readers feel about this. I think it is a cowardly thing to do.

Burton Chardak

Oakland

See also White Punks in Black.

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