“Antifa guys steal hats and other things from Trump people all day long and the cops do nothing. And given that their behavior is illegal you could argue that you where concerned that they were illegal hiding their identity so they could assault you without fear of being caught.”
If they are stealing hats and other things, they should be arrested for theft. If they are assaulting people or vandalizing property, they should be arrested.
If they are simply at an assembly or protest and wearing a mask, ripping off their mask could be considered assault.
You cannot go around ripping people’s masks off.
You cannot rip off the Santa beard or mast of a Salvation Army bell ringer, you cannot rip off someone’s Uncle Sam mast at the 4th of July Parade, you cannot rip off the mast of someone walking into a costume party and you cannot rip off the mask of a person an Antifa protester.
If someone rips off my "mast" while walking into a costume party they are definitely getting a A$$ whooping...
“If they are simply at an assembly or protest and wearing a mask, ripping off their mask could be considered assault.”
What if the act of wearing a mask is in itself illegal. It is illegal in many cities for an adult to wear a mask in public (laws enacted against the KKK).
“You cannot go around ripping people’s masks off.”
Unless you’re Susan Rice?