Ohio has a law to make illegal protesters wearing a mask/hood a felony

[*TheLeonardLeap*]

(05-15-2024, 11:25 PM)Dill Wrote: No person shall unite with two or more others to commit a misdemeanor while wearing white caps, masks, or other disguise.” Violating this “anti-disguise” law is punishable by a fourth-degree felony charge, up to $5,000 in fines and five years on community control. . . .(from Stewie's link).

So people can wear a mask at a protest, just not wear one AND commit a crime, like what, failure to disperse? 

What about a black mask? This applies to "caps" too?  Old laws are interesting. Be proud, Ohio. And Arizona. 

Wondering how re-activating a law originally targeting the Klan will affect the US' tradition of civil disobedience.

Normally people who want to commit crimes don't want to be identified. Not always the case with civil disobedience, though. 
This looks like a way to squeeze a bit of extra-serious punishment out of existing (if outdated) law and apply it to protestors.
Turn a misdemeanor into a felony. Wreck careers, if possible. 

“In our society, there are few more significant career-wreckers than a felony charge" says the Ohio AG.

He also shared an impression of university administrators "in on this woke anti-Israel, pro-Palestine rhetoric" too.  

I believe that's...
-white caps
-mask
-other disguises

Not... 
White: caps, masks, or other disguises

As that would almost certainly be written as "while wearing caps, masks, or other disguises that are white".

But I might be mistaken and even if I am not I could absolutely see a defense attorney using that as an argument later.

I think my biggest problem with it is I don't think it should be an escalator for any non-violent crime as that seems like it has the potential for abuse and weird cases of people getting massive sentences for minor and petty crimes. I will disagree with you that it's an "outdated" law. The KKK had a demonstration in Cincinnati in my lifetime and I am in my 30s.

Ultimately it seems a bit like body armor. It's not illegal to wear body armor, but I am pretty sure in most states if you wear it while doing a violent felony it's an escalator.