Port Authority officials address Black Lives Matter masks controversy ahead of planned protest

Port Authority Chief Executive Katharine Kelleman on Wednesday addressed controversy surrounding a policy barring bus drivers from wearing Black Lives Matter face masks, a statement that came ahead of a protest that was spurred by employees receiving reprimands for going against the policy.

“I want to be absolutely clear: Port Authority unequivocally believes that Black lives matter,” Kelleman wrote.

“Port Authority’s uniform policy isn’t directed at Black Lives Matter or any other specific message, group or ideology,” she continued.

Protesters plan to gather Wednesday afternoon in solidarity with bus drivers they allege were reprimanded for wearing masks supporting the Black Lives Matter movement.

Two employees have been disciplined for not following the mask policy.

Kelleman said that if the Port Authority allows employees to champion one political or social cause, they would have to allow all political or social messaging. That could include messaging that might “disrupt Port Authority’s ability to deliver public transit service in a safe and efficient manner” or make some riders feel unsafe.

“While private businesses have the ability to permit employees to display certain messages while preventing other employees from displaying other messages, federal law prohibits public agencies such as Port Authority from doing the same,” she said.

She noted that the authority’s uniform policy has banned wearing political or social justice messages since the 1970s, and it’s been amended to include face coverings “since they are now part of the Port Authority uniform.”

Kelleman said officials are working with their uniform supplier to create face masks that are part of the required uniform.