Many police officers are flouting state orders by not wearing face masks at mass demonstrations across New York City, frustrating city leaders and protesters who say the decision is deliberate and disrespectful. Despite New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s order for all New Yorkers to wear a face covering in public to stop the spread of COVID-19—and NYPD protocol that officers must comply—police officers have been spotted and photographed this week not wearing masks when interacting with protesters at crowded rallies for George Floyd, a black man who died after a white Minneapolis policeman pressed his knee into Floyd’s neck for nearly nine minutes. “It’s symbolic,” says Cynthia Godsoe, 49, who has participated in three protests since Sunday.