CITIZEN FIVE DISGUISE

  Hong Kong chief executive Carrie Lam issued the re-institution of a colonial-era law banning face masks in public, to take effect yesterday. This was done in response to anti-government protests that have plagued her administration in Hong Kong for months. It is an obvious ploy to criminalize a common practice by protesters and identify them for arrest. What’s this got to do with living in the Catskills? I’ve got two words: Calico Indians.

    

    In 1845, six years into New York’s Anti-Rent War, Gov. Silas Wright passed what was known as the “Anti-Disguise Law,” a legislative initiative aimed at stopping insurgents from hiding identity. In the 21st century this law was invoked during both Occupy Wall Street and Anonymous protests. Now Hong Kong is bringing back its own version. 

    Two of my ancestors, Calico Indians Elias and Cornelius Osterhout, were convicted (along with many others) of murder and kidnapping in the death of Sheriff Osman Steele, during the anti-rent struggle. The charges would not stick and when administrations changed in Albany they were released from Dannemora, as working class heroes. But for years after the trial sheriff’s posses rode out across Catskill’s “Andes,” in search of anyone involved in the armed insurgency. If a mask was found buried under a barn’s floorboards any male “of age” within the household faced arrest. Unbeknownst to the authorities many women were also “Indians.” That was another reason to be masked.

   Old laws propping up authoritarian regimes can be pulled out of the dusty drawer whenever needed. Invoking this particular statute is a short step away from marshal law in Hong Kong. These days we are globally connected through our own particular histories and experiences with colonialism, capitalism and revolution. The destruction of the “patroon” system and removal of up-rent New York manor lords in 1839 would take years and not just a few lives. Hong Kong could face much worse. 

     Struggles for agrarian equality and social justice that New Yorkers experienced in the Catskills during the 19th century are reflected in the protests in urban 2019 Hong Kong. Lam’s connections to Beijing and it’s repressive policies are what sparked the protests in the first place. Chinese extradition laws that could be applied politically in Hong Kong remain in that dusty drawer….waiting. The longer the protests go on the greater the danger that China will intercede militarily and kill or extradite protest leaders. Water cannons spewing blue dye already “mark” protesters for arrest. Masks are a small way of maintaining anonymity, allowing protesters to keep up the pressure and take to the streets every week.

     Criminalizing anti-government behavior by “unmasking” identity is another intrusion on a populace’s right to privacy. Edward Snowden exposed the NSA’s blanket surveillance program into America’s communications and paid dearly for it with exile to Russia. Expectation to privacy is rapidly disappearing. Just the other day I was telling Samm about an old friend who was a child preacher who made copper wire plant hangers in Sausalito in the ’70’s. The very next day an ad for “Wandering Jew metal plant hangers” appeared mysteriously on my CNN newsfeed. I don’t even have a cell phone and have never googled plant hangers or child preachers. Is this just an uncanny coincidence or is somebody, somewhere, listening to my talk of diasporas and pastures aplenty? God? Could be time to pull up those church floorboards and don the mask once again. Down Sullivan!