People of color are exempt from Oregon county's mandatory mask order

[madville]

An Oregon county has decided to make people of color exempt from its mandatory mask policy, citing the potential for racial profiling. The decision comes as multiple counties in Oregon have ramped up face-covering requirements to slow the spread of coronavirus.

Lincoln County's general directive requires everyone to wear a face-covering in any indoor public setting, or any outdoor setting where six feet of social distancing can't be maintained. But the county wrote on its website that "People of color who have heightened concerns about racial profiling and harassment due to wearing face coverings in public" are exempt from the rule.

"Violence and discrimination are a daily experience for people who are Black, Indigenous and people of color," the county said on its website, according to KOIN. "Racism and racist reactions to Black, indigenous, and people of color wearing face coverings is a reality. And yet we know face coverings can help people stay healthy and save lives. Multnomah County does not tolerate discrimination or violence toward individuals because of their race, ethnicity or identity."

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/lincoln-county-oregon-exempts-people-of-color-from-mandatory-coronavirus-mask-policy/

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

1. I get what they're trying to do, but I'm not sure it's such a great idea,

since covid-19 is hitting PoC communities especially hard.

[soothsayer]

2. Mixed feelings: very susceptible populations

[qazplm135]

3. no, just no

as a Black man who has been racially profiled, I still say no, wear a mask, everyone, make them, mandatory.

[mr_lebowski]

4. Now the racists will just turn around and attack them for not wearing a mask

and getting 'special privileges'.

Suddenly the disease will become very real and dangerous in their minds when they see a POC not wearing a mask when white people have to.

Probably well-intentioned, but a bad idea.

[madville]

7. Wouldn't racists want to see POC not wearing masks?

Because then more would likely contract COVID-19.

This whole story and the logic for the county's order is backwards and inside out.

[mr_lebowski]

11. Racism is not logical ...

Guessing they'll be upset POC's are getting 'special privileges' above and beyond any other thought. Seems like that's how they think to me anyway.

[PufPuf23]

10. If everyone is masked except blacks,

the lack of mask becomes a target.

Also do not forget that the masks are primarily to avoid spreading not catching the virus.

Some are not only racists looking for excuse but some also look at lack of mask in close proximity as an assault.

Think if someone did the math probably more risk of bad outcome not wearing the mask than living while black during a pandemic and accompanying social and economic chaos.

Agree with you that well intentioned but (very) bad idea.

[Jake Stern]

14. Well intentioned and likely unconstitutional

The order brazenly discriminated based on race. Didn't they consult the County Attorney on this?

[Ms. Toad]

18. and the reverse will also be true

Once they know POC do not have to wear a mask, they may be suspicious of any who are.

[mr_lebowski]

22. Also true indeed ...

Glad to see someone else is reporting downthread it's redacted.

It is likely well-intended, but also quite illogical in many ways. It reeks of 'unintended consequences'.

Glad to see wiser heads have prevailed.

[Ex Lurker]

5. already been rescinded NT

[madville]

9. Good

Besides the fact that order would never hold up in court due to it's discriminatory nature, it was flat out dangerous to POC.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

15. Good. It may have been well-meaning but obviously they didn't think it through.

[Eliot Rosewater]

6. The racist traitors will blame the AA community for this while simultaneously NOT wearing

masks themselves.

[Journeyman]

8. I sense this could backfire. People with "heightened concerns about POC" will see those in masks...

as even more of a threat, since in those idiot's minds, "those people don't need to wear masks," and if they are they must be a threat.

Damn. Our society certainly knows how to place people between Scylla and Charybdis.

[maxsolomon]

12. Lincoln County is the central OR Coast

Lincoln City to Yachats. Not exactly a large population there (50K), so this symbolic move doesn't come with a large risk factor.

[Jake Stern]

13. I don't see how an order exempting persons based on race would stand up in court

Could one of DUs resident legal eagles give some insight?

[Shrike47]

16. The County Commissioners reversed the exemption, while commenting on the vile, racist calls they

received about it from all over the country. The local minority community, which is small, asked them to reverse.

[cwydro]

17. People of color are at much more risk from this virus.

If I were a person of color, I'd be wearing a face mask.

Just as I am as a white woman.

Really don't get this.

[demosincebirth]

19. Is white a color?

[cwydro]

20. Richard Pryor had a great routine on "colored people."

I need to find that.

He basically said whites had more colors than anyone else - green when sick, red when embarrassed, pink when hot, blue when dead...it was a great riff. I'll keep trying to find it.

[Retrograde]

21. The virus doesn't care

This is one of the dumber things I've encountered wrt Covid-19: viruses ignore human-based classifications and infect whomever they please (if viruses can be said to have volition)