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Hey! National news! An Oregon county is not "mandating masks, but only for white people." Stop. That is not the headline. That is not correct, and it's irresponsible, and race-baiting and dogwhistling. Say WHY the county is allowing exemptions.
Don't think it's a dogwhistle? Look at the replies to this tweet from Andy Ngo, who has been frequently criticized for his alt-right-friendly coverage. https://twitter.com/MrAndyNgo/status/1275450866946850822
Here is what is happening: in the weeks leading up to Oregon Governor Kate Brown mandating masks in seven counties, a number of public health officials and leaders and representatives from BIPOC communities raised concerns about any mask mandate that is legally enforced.
BIPOC groups have been vocal about masks for a while. Wearing a mask is safe for a white person. But that experience is very different for people of color. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/14/us/coronavirus-masks-racism-african-americans.html
They say that masks invite racial profiling.
Now factor in a mask mandate that's legally enforced, at a time when overpolicing of BIPOC is a major part of the national dialogue. We already know that POC are more likely to be targeted by cops for misdemeanors, fines, and felonies
Now factor in a mask mandate that's legally enforced, at a time when overpolicing of BIPOC is a major part of the national dialogue. We already know that POC are more likely to be targeted by cops for misdemeanors, fines, and felonies
Oregon's mandate only requires people to wear masks in indoor public spaces. Lincoln County took the mandate one step further, and also requires them in outdoor spaces where social distancing isn't possible.
To avoid racial profiling, Lincoln County decided to give people of color a choice: to weight their own risks, over whether they think wearing a mask is more dangerous to them personally, or getting COVID-19 is more dangerous.
For similar reasons, Multnomah County has chosen not to enforce the mask mandate, but they are strongly urging everyone to participate, and to even wear masks in private, when meeting with people they don't live with. https://multco.us/novel-coronavirus-covid-19/news/state%E2%80%99s-face-covering-mandate-effect-today-county-encourages
So how do you write the headline? There are plenty of ways. But if it doesn't say "due to concerns of racist violence/overpolicing/etc," you are just feeding the false narrative of anti-white discrimination. Ignoring racism is promoting racism.
Lastly: To be very clear, the state has not issued any guidance on how the mask ban will be enforced at all. Many counties are choosing not to enforce it. LC didn't issue an 'exemption' so much as reassure communities of color that they will not be profiled & harassed.
Ngo is wrong. National news is wrong. The alt-right conspiracy theorists are wrong. They're just race-baiting, and many of the publications covering this should know better.
Some more info about Oregon's mask mandate (because it IS confusing.) Most counties I have talked to, if they plan to enforce this mandate, say they plan to enforce it on a business level.
Some counties are *very* concerned that the mask mandate, even unenforced, will lead to citizens harassing BIPOC and disabled folks who aren't wearing masks, and calling the cops on them.
Those counties reiterate that doing so is racial harassment, and illegal.
Basically, Lincoln County is saying racial harassment is one of (several, including disabilities and health issues) valid reasons to choose to wear or not wear a mask.
They aren't saying "yo you guys don't need to wear them," they're saying certain groups, including BIPOC, can weigh the safety of a mask versus not wearing one. If a mask might suffocate you, decide if that's a bigger risk than the virus. If a mask might get you targeted, same.
UPDATE: After experiencing harassment all day, Lincoln County officials removed BIPOC from their list of exemptions -- but NOT because of racist demands.
Leaders from communities of color say the racist backlash has put people of color at risk, and asked them to remove it.
Leaders from communities of color say the racist backlash has put people of color at risk, and asked them to remove it.
It's important to note that at *no point* did Lincoln County's plan say that white people who wore masks would be policed. They very explicitly said that no private or public person, including law enforcement, should harass, detain, arrest, or fine someone over mask use.
It was literally just a reminder that some people may have valid reasons for not wearing masks, and the racial harassment and violence is one of those reasons. "Don't harass anyone, but especially not the disabled/ill/those who fear abuse."
It's almost like no one in national news actually took the time to read the order, and just reported it from Andy Ngo's incomplete screenshot. 