Ohio attorney general warns student protesters in masks could face felony charges under anti-KKK law

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Ohio's apical lawyer has advised the state's nationalist universities that a instrumentality written to deter Ku Klux Klan demonstrations could beryllium utilized to enforce felony charges connected students who deterioration look coverings portion protesting the warfare successful Gaza.

In a missive sent Monday, aft weeks of pro-Palestinian field protests astir the country, Republican Attorney General Dave Yost advised the presidents of Ohio's 34 public, four-year universities — which his bureau represents — to forewarn students astir the 1953 law.

“In our society, determination are fewer much important career-wreckers than a felony charge,” the missive said. “I constitute to you contiguous to pass your pupil bodies of an Ohio instrumentality that, successful the discourse of immoderate behaviour during the caller pro-Palestinian protests, could person that effect.”

The instrumentality is contained successful a azygous sentence: “No idiosyncratic shall unite with 2 oregon much others to perpetrate a misdemeanor portion wearing achromatic caps, masks, oregon different disguise.” Violating this “anti-disguise” instrumentality is punishable by a fourth-degree felony charge, up to $5,000 successful fines and 5 years connected assemblage control, Yost wrote.

Protesters astir the U.S. and the satellite person progressively taken steps to stay anonymous by wearing a operation of caput and look coverings. Some are spiritual hijabs oregon aesculapian masks utilized to forestall vulnerability to COVID-19 and different viruses.

Yost, a fourth-term authorities authoritative who is considering a tally for politician successful 2026, wrote that students should protestation “within the bounds of the law," not perpetrate crimes, not usage the First Amendment arsenic “a sword against chap students,” and “own their advocacy and debar wearing masks.”

Among Ohio's 34 nationalist universities are Kent State, whose sanction is synonymous with clashes betwixt Vietnam War protesters and National Guard members that near 4 dormant successful 1970, and Ohio State — a tract of respective protests successful caller weeks wherever dozens person been arrested, astir for transgression trespass.

Ohio State spokesperson Ben Johnson said the assemblage had received Yost's missive and was reviewing it. In a March 6 letter, Yost had told President Ted Carter that Ohio instrumentality prevents the assemblage from divesting its interests successful Israeli assets, 1 of the calls of protesters.

Kent State and respective different universities contacted by The Associated Press had nary contiguous comment. Nor did the Inter-University Council, which represents universities' interests, oregon the American Civil Liberties Union.

Bethany McCorkle, a spokesperson for Yost's office, said the missive regarding the “disguise law” was not a effect to immoderate circumstantial petition for ineligible proposal by the universities.

“The missive was proactive guidance to universities that helium is counsel for to marque definite nary 1 becomes an unintentional felon,” she said successful a substance message.