(The Center Square) — A New York county has banned masks in public places in response to anti-Israel demonstrations over the war in Gaza, despite threats of a legal challenge from critics who say it’s unconstitutional. 

Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, a Republican, signed the Mask Transparency Act on Wednesday. The law, which goes into effect immediately, makes it illegal to wear a mask or face covering “for the purposes of concealing an individual’s identity in public places.” The law exempts people who cover their faces for health, religious or cultural reasons. Violators of the misdemeanor face up to a year in jail and a $1,000 fine.