Photo by Jessica McGowan/Getty Images The new year brought a new legislature in Oklahoma, and it’s wasting no time destroying what’s left of civil liberties in the deep-red state. First up: A draconian bill that would forbid Oklahomans from wearing hoodies in public. According to the bill’s sponsor, Republican State Sen. Don Barrington, the purpose of the proposed ban is “to make businesses and public places safer by ensuring that people cannot conceal their identities for the purposes of crime or harassment.” But Oklahoma already has a law barring anybody from wearing a hood or mask during the commission of a criminal offense, passed decades ago to help police crack down on the Ku Klux Klan. Barrington’s bill would amend this law to criminalize the wearing of a hood in public at all times, even when there’s nothing criminal afoot. Barrington does allow for some exceptions. Under his bill, it’s perfectly legal to wear hoods on Halloween, en route to a “masquerade party,” during an “exhibition of an educational, religious or historical character,” for religious purposes, during inclement weather, or during “exhibitions of minstrel troupes, circuses, sporting groups, mascots or other amusements or dramatic shows.”

These extensive exceptions raise a huge constitutional red flag. Wearing hoodies—like burning a flag—can function as “symbolic speech,” or physical acts that also convey expression. The Supreme Court has held that where a state seeks to restrict symbolic speech, it must demonstrate that “the governmental interest is unrelated to the suppression of free expression.” the fault in our stars merchandise ebay ukHere, Barrington’s professed crime-fighting rationale is undercut by those endless exceptions, strongly implying that his bill might be targeting hoodies for a very different reason, one pertaining to their potentially expressive character.the north face alamo hoodie Trayvon Martin’s murder, millions protested by donning hoodies at political rallies, and the apparel has since become ubiquitous at demonstrations against police brutality toward unarmed black men. milwaukee heated hoodie australia

Barrington’s bill is clearly aiming to hinder the power of such protests by outlawing one of their most powerful symbolic tools: a single piece of clothing. In case this fact wasn’t already plain enough, Barrington has exempted “educational, religious or historical” protests from his ban—but not political protests. Ultimately, then, Barrington’s bill is just another attempt to censor disfavored expression under some laughable pretext of protecting public safety. ichiban hoodieBecause Republicans hold a supermajority in the Oklahoma legislature, Barrington’s bill may pass—but it’ll likely be struck down by the courts, and can only serve to further galvanize those demonstrators who have already donned hoodies at Oklahoma rallies. cork gaa hoodieWhen legislators like Barrington try to take away protestors’ means of expression, they rarely accomplish their goal. tipperary hoodies

Instead, they simply prove that the protestors are doing something right.Oklahoma lawmaker denies 'hoodie' ban is a thingChat with us in Facebook Messenger. Find out what's happening in the world as it unfolds.JUST WATCHEDReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCH Story highlightsSome interpret bill banning robes or masks in public spaces to include hooded sweatshirtsRepublican state Sen. Don Barrington says bill "not designed to ban hoodies"Oklahoma Legislator Proposes Hoodie BanOklahoma could join a list of states where it is illegal to wear a hoodie in public, if a state senator's proposed bill goes through.Republican state senator Don Barrington has authored a bill to ban wearing a mask, hood or other face-covering in order to hide one’s identity in a public space, Oklahoma’s Channel 6 reports. The measure includes exceptions for holidays and special events like Halloween and religious beliefs.Similar laws are already on the books in 10 states around the country, including Florida, California, New York and Washington, DC.

Proponents say hoodie bans help deter crime by preventing people from hiding their identity while entering a store or other public space, but critics of the measure argue that such laws restrict free expression and exacerbate problems with racial profiling in communities of color. Oklahoma residents are concerned that a proposed bill would make it a crime to wear a hooded sweatshirt, or hoodie, in public on many occasions, according to local news station KFOR. The wearing of hoods or similar head coverings during the commission of a crime has been against state law since the 1920s, with the original intent of curbing violence perpetrated by the Ku Klux Klan. But the new proposal would also ban an individual from intentionally concealing "his or her identity in a public place by means of a robe, mask, or other disguise" even if he or she were not involved in a crime. Violation of the proposed law would constitute a misdemeanor, punishable by a fine up to $500. The bill's language includes exemptions for religious garments, weather protection, safety or medical purposes, parades, Halloween celebrations, masquerade parties, "minstrel troupes," circuses, sporting groups, mascots or "other amusements or dramatic shows."

But several residents who spoke to KFOR expressed concern that the language was still overly broad and could be easily misconstrued to ban hooded sweatshirts on any occasion. “I think this is a violation of an individual’s right to chose what they want to wear as long as it doesn’t violate the realm of public decency and moral values, and I think this could be very problematic,” Oklahoma City attorney James Siderias said. “They might have personal issues for keeping them on; they might have a bad hair day or maybe they have cancer or they’re losing their hair. You just don’t know why,” Tracy Wehagen said. The bill's author, state Sen. Don Barrington (R), said that the goal is simply to help deter crime. “The intent of Senate Bill 13 is to make businesses and public places safer by ensuring that people cannot conceal their identities for the purpose of crime or harassment. Similar language has been in Oklahoma statutes for decades and numerous other states have similar laws in place," he said.