Testimony Before the North Dakota House Judiciary Committee

Hannah E. Meyers testified in a hearing titled Unmasking Protestors.

Watch the full testimony here.

Chairman Klemin, members of the committee: thank you for the invitation to discuss the need for North Dakota to strengthen and expand its mask ban. I also want to note that I am here as an expert witness to testify and offer technical public policy guidance. All views I express are my own and not those of my employer.

Around the country, people are exploiting masks to conceal their identities to commit crimes and to menace and terrorize citizens.

Many jurisdictions previously had or still have successful bans on the books, and many are creating new bans, which are both constitutional and effective. North Dakota has been ahead of this curve, with a ban passed in 2017, recognizing that when protesters mask to conceal their identity, it increases violence and disorder. The considered amendments to the bill would strengthen this protection.

Click here to read the full testimony.

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Hannah Meyers is director of the policing and public safety initiative at the Manhattan Institute.