Man in Philadelphia Removed From Bus For Not Wearing a Mask

This is disturbing.

do riders know that they might be pulled off a SEPTA bus by 10 cops for not having a mask? pic.twitter.com/NnHXJC02E8

— Philly Transit Riders Union (@phillyTRU) April 10, 2020

From the Philadelphia Inquirer:

SEPTA says it will no longer enforce a short-lived policy requiring riders to wear facial coverings after a widely shared video showing a man being dragged off a bus, allegedly for not wearing one, prompted confusion about whether masks were mandatory while riding public transit.

The video shows several Philadelphia police officers forcibly removing the man, who is later heard saying he was taken off the bus for not wearing a mask.

Philadelphia police responded to “calls of a disturbance” near 11th and Market Streets about 8:25 a.m. Friday after a passenger was repeatedly asked to leave the bus and refused. The passenger was not arrested or cited, according to police. The incident is under investigation.

“The police were responding to the fact that the person was asked to leave the bus and refused,” Managing Director Brian Abernathy said during the city’s news conference Friday. “I would expect my officers to continue to do that and support our SEPTA workers.”

SEPTA said it’s no longer enforcing a facial covering requirement that went into effect Thursday, and will not deny entry to passengers who are not wearing a mask or covering. When it announced its new “lifeline” schedule this week, SEPTA said it was asking all riders to wear masks or facial coverings for the safety of riders and employees.

All this stuff is surreal.

Only a month ago, we could freely attend places of worship, go to work, shop in stores with fully stocked shelves, eat at restaurants, go to movies, concerts, and sporting events, ride public transit, and see friends and family.

Now, police are dragging a man off a bus for not wearing a mask.

So much has changed so quickly.

I don't like totalitarianism. I really don't do well under these conditions.