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Man Arrested for Anti-Mask Violation at Savannah Protest

Activists gathered for the 'No Kings Protest' in Savannah, voicing their opposition.

News Summary

Luvrio Wilkerson, 24, was arrested in Savannah during the ‘No Kings Protest’ for allegedly violating Georgia’s anti-mask law. His arrest and the circumstances surrounding it have prompted discussions about the law’s application and raised concerns about law enforcement practices at protests. Despite previous mask wearing during protests without issue, Wilkerson now faces charges after an encounter with police led to his detention. This incident highlights the ongoing tensions surrounding mask mandates and public dissent in Georgia.

Savannah – A 24-year-old man named Luvrio Wilkerson was arrested during a peaceful protest in Savannah for violating the state’s anti-mask law. The incident occurred during the “No Kings Protest” on June 14, which aimed to voice opposition to President Trump’s policies. Wilkerson’s arrest has raised questions regarding the application of a Georgia Supreme Court ruling from 1990, originally designed to curb the Ku Klux Klan’s intimidation tactics.

Wilkerson wore a keffiyeh, a traditional Arabic scarf that covered his head and neck while keeping his eyes visible. He claimed to have participated in prior protests, such as the 2020 Black Lives Matter demonstrations, without encountering legal issues related to mask-wearing. As he arrived at the protest, Wilkerson received warnings from police regarding potential arrests for individuals wearing masks.

At the event, only one other individual was detained for wearing a mask. According to the police report, an officer allegedly instructed Wilkerson to lower his mask, while Wilkerson maintained that there was no direct communication from the officers. Although he complied by showing his face for a brief moment, he later pulled his mask back up. Wilkerson expressed feeling intimidated when officers approached him, prompting him to run away. His attempt to flee concluded with officers threatening to use a taser, at which point he stopped and was apprehended.

Wilkerson now faces two misdemeanor charges: obstruction of law enforcement and violating the anti-mask law. After his release on bail, he stated that he was unaware of the law’s existence prior to his arrest. However, the Savannah Police Department’s Public Information Officer clarified that Wilkerson would not have faced charges if he had not fled from the officers.

Georgia’s anti-mask law, outlined in Code 16-11-38, prohibits individuals from wearing masks or hoods in public places in an effort to prevent concealment of identity. The law was originally intended to combat the actions of the Ku Klux Klan, as exemplified by the case of Shade Miller, Jr. in 1990, who faced scrutiny for wearing KKK regalia publicly. With the rise of the COVID-19 pandemic, there have been exceptions for individuals utilizing masks for health protection purposes.

Another woman briefly detained at the protest wore a medical mask and was subsequently released uncharged after officers realized her mask served a legitimate health purpose. Despite the arrests associated with mask violations, the police confirmed that there may be discretion applied in enforcement, depending on the context and intent of the individuals wearing masks. This was further emphasized by Savannah Mayor Van Johnson, who commented on an incident captured on video showing officers zip-tying the hands of a woman during the protest and explaining that her detention was misattributed regarding mask regulations.

In response to the events and ongoing discussions around mask regulations, Wilkerson is advocating for participants attending a planned protest on July 17 to wear KN95 medical masks instead of other types of masks that could lead to potential legal issues. This incident sheds light on the current tensions surrounding public protests, mask mandates, and law enforcement protocols in the state of Georgia.