(CNN) A mask mandate exemption for people of color meant to address racial profiling concerns has been removed after racist backlash, Oregon county officials said in a statement.
"The expressions of racism regarding the exception has created a ripple of fear throughout our communities of color. The very policy meant to protect them, is now making them a target for further discrimination and harassment," Lincoln County leaders said Wednesday.
The county requires most residents to wear face coverings in public settings, indoors or outdoors. The locale, which is overwhelmingly White, had been one of the first places in the United States to exempt non-White residents if they fear harassment.
Also exempt are people with disabilities or medical conditions whose breathing would be obstructed by a mask and children under 12, though children ages 2 through 12 are still encouraged to cover their faces.
But following the announcement, county leaders received unprecedented vitriol and "horrifically racist commentary" that turned the policy into one that makes people of color more of a target for harassment and discrimination, the statement said.
DoubleJesusPower on June 24th, 2020 at 22:09 UTC »
They're claiming this should help PoC feel less anxiety but let's play out a scenario they're suggesting:
PoC wears face mask for safety
white person calls the cop on "suspicious person" wearing a mask
Cops show up and detain PoC "Why are you wearing a mask?"
"To protect myself from Covid"
"Yeah but it's not required for you, what are you actually doing here?"
Having a REQUIREMENT to wear a mask makes it MUCH easier to answer "I'm wearing a mask because it's a legal requirement"
So in effect this change ONLY harms PoC, either they expose themselves to Covid or get harassed for not exposing themselves to Covid
elcanariooo on June 24th, 2020 at 21:19 UTC »
Maybe I'm missing something but this sounds extraordinarily stupid on so many levels
Hellige88 on June 24th, 2020 at 17:19 UTC »
But not wearing a mask would put the community at higher risk of infection, right? I can’t tell if they are trying to be racist or to not be racist. Either way, it comes off as extremely racist to me.