NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — A Tennessee bill filed by Rep. Justin Jones (D-Nashville) would ban law enforcement from wearing masks to protect their identities and require they have some form of identification on their uniforms.

Rep. Jones' bill, called the "Stop American Gestapo Act," comes after multiple ICE roundups in Tennessee, where some plain-clothed, masked federal agents took individuals into custody. Rep. Jones and advocates argue the masks and lack of uniforms makes it difficult to tell whether these agents are legitimate or criminals impersonating the feds, and kidnapping, raping, and assaulting innocent victims.

There have been multiple reports across the country of individuals wearing masks and impersonating ICE agents.

Jones told reporters Wednesday his bill is about anti-human trafficking and improving public safety.

“This is not a partisan issue," Rep. Jones said. "Let's be clear. This is an issue of what is right and wrong.” 

Advocates argued the issue has sparked fear in the immigrant community.

“I worry about what this will do to women’s safety. I worry about a neighbor who is just mad that I parked my car the wrong way, because anyone can decide to put on a mask and harass citizens, and that’s what this is about, that doesn’t keep people safe. That does not keep anybody safe," Metro Nashville Councilmember at Large, Zulfat Suara said.

“When you look at the videos of people being picked up, they don’t even have the time to ask for an ID. They don’t even have the time to call for help, and that’s what these impersonators are counting on," she continued.

Suara cited a surveillance video out of Memphis where plain-clothed, masked men raided a food truck and took multiple employees into custody. Some questioned whether they were legitimate agents, due to their face coverings and lack of uniforms.

Meanwhile, some Republicans, including Tennessee Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), have filed bills to protect federal agents' identities. One of Sen. Blackburn's bills would make it illegal to require masked federal agents' identities to be released. In a post on X, Blackburn wrote agents cover their faces "to protect their families from death threats."

However, Jones argued police shouldn't have the right to hide their faces.

“When you sign up to be a law enforcement officer, you don’t sign up to be anonymous," Rep. Jones said. "There’s no law enforcement agency in America where you can sign up to be an anonymous officer. That is literally what is called Gestapo. A secret police force.”

Rep. Jones said some moderate Republicans agree law enforcement covering their faces can pose public safety risks. He hopes both Republicans and Democrats can work together to address the issue.

“We’ve seen some type of unusual coalitions formed in the past, and I believe that an unusual coalition can be formed for this legislation if we start meeting, if we start saying that this is not an issue about left and right, but this is about an issue of what’s right and wrong, and this is about keeping our communities safe," Rep. Jones said.

The legislative session reconvenes next Jan.

News Source : https://www.wkrn.com/news/tennessee-politics/tn-bill-stop-american-gestapo-act/