Republican Attorney General of Ohio, Dave Yost, has defended his recent letter to college campuses warning that masked anti-Israel protestors might be charged with felonies under state law.
Yost made it clear in an interview with Fox News Digital that although the First Amendment guarantees the freedom to free speech, it forbids acts that infringe upon the rights of others. He cited a long-standing Ohio legislation that was first passed to combat organizations like the Ku Klux Klan and intended to limit criminal activity by people wearing masks.
The attorney general listed possible punishments, such as jail time and fines, in a letter to university presidents that stressed the gravity of breaking this anti-disguise rule. Yost emphasized that these kinds of consequences are different from the small offenses that are usually connected to student protests.
Yost’s letter drew criticism from some, notably Democratic state senator from Ohio Bill DeMora, which prompted the attorney general to clarify his position. Yost brushed off the criticism as political posturing and restated his goal of reminding people of their need to follow the law.
Yost voiced concern over the deterioration of law enforcement and social order in society and reaffirmed his commitment to defend all people, particularly the Jewish community.
Yost addressed the anti-Israel demonstrators, asking them to look at the examples of past leaders who spoke out for their causes without hiding who they were—people like John Lewis and Martin Luther King Jr.
The attorney general’s position highlights more general discussions about protest rights, free speech, and striking a balance between the freedom to one’s own expression and the rules of society.