That is the history, and I agree with you on that point, but…
This law should read like NYS’s seatbelt law - You can’t be charged just for not wearing your seatbelt. There has to be a primary crime (speeding, reckless driving, drunk driving, property damage accident, etc.)
You can wear a mask if you aren’t doing anything else nefarious, like protesting.
The gathering of a group of people being masked is intimidation.
Sitting around in the forest having a bonfire with a couple of acquaintances is more innocuous than “protesting,” wouldn’t you say?