Here we go again… mask bans are spreading (as disabled people warned they would!)
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Here we go again… mask bans are spreading (as disabled people warned they would!)
Sen. Jon Bramnick is proposing a bill to criminalize masking in public in New Jersey.
Many of us have been saying for months (if not longer) that if we don’t start normalizing masks as a public health tool - they would be easy to ban. Too many people who can and should be masking have stopped… leaving maskers as the outliers amid a loud frenzy of anti-mask rhetoric.
I genuinely believe most people don’t care if another person wears a respirator - unfortunately the ones who are angry about it seem to be making the most noise. When it’s mostly disabled and marginalized people opposing the bans - it’s easy to see why they pass. We aren’t listened to. We aren’t respected. Our lives aren’t valued. Those in power are perfectly fine infecting us or forcing us to stay home forever. We are an unwelcome reminder that the pandemic is not over, that Covid is still killing and disabling people and that you SHOULD be taking precautions.
If you stopped masking - now is a great time to start again. We need you. Even if you don’t believe you’re at risk - mask in solidarity with disabled and high risk individuals whose lives will be put at risk if these ugly laws pass. Mask to break chains of transmission. Mask to show community care. Mask so you won’t be the person who disables or harms someone else.
For more on New Jersey ban: https://nj1015.com/mask-ban-nj-could-ban-masks-in-public-and-at-protests/
The Covid is Not Over newsletter (which is great & you should check it out if you haven’t already) did an in depth summary of mask bans including links to many important articles: https://johndupuis.substack.com/p/eugenics-in-action-mask-bans-segregate
I wrote a piece on Nassau County ban and why medical exemptions aren’t the answer: https://www.disabledginger.com/p/nassau-county-ny-makes-masking-illegal
And another piece on the North Carolina ban and why appeasing anti-maskers who seek to punish disabled people for mandates is NOT the answer: https://www.disabledginger.com/p/north-carolina-passes-hb-237-and
#CovidIsAirborne #CovidCautious #CovidIsNotOver #CleanAir #WearaMask #Disability #LongCovid #Ableism #Denial #CleanAir #Pandemic #PublicHealth #InfectionControl #Eugenics #SafeHealthcare #N95 #Respirators #MasksWork #MaskUp #Spoonie #Discrimination #Dysautonomia #mecfs #pots #mcas #communitycare #wearamask #chronicillness #keepmasksinhealthcare #MaskBans #NoMaskBans #bullying #CleanAirClassrooms #UglyLaws
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@broadwaybabyto
"When it’s mostly disabled and marginalized people opposing the bans - it’s easy to see why they pass. We aren’t listened to. We aren’t respected. Our lives aren’t valued."
--This is why I think it's important to make pro-mask arguments on the broadest possible demographic grounds. Not just 'disabled people need them" but "We all deserve the option to mask - what if your allergies are acting up, what if there's a bad smoke day, I have a right to wear what I want!"