From what I hear in the rumor mill, they're being encouraged to both break the law with impunity and be as cruel as possible. They're being told having their face covered keeps them anonymous (it doesn't, and that will be a fun surprise for them later).

laws are for functioning democracies

the thing about laws is that there's a class of people they bind but do not protect and a class of people they protect but do not bind.

arguably a third group they bind and protect, but in practice its just based on which of the first two groups is involved.