A new version of a City Council bill would let the NYPD decide when city houses of worship should be protected from protesters by “buffer zones” and how big the zones should be.
City lawmakers will hold a public hearing on the bill, which is slightly changed from its original form, on Wednesday. Where the previous version of the bill designated a buffer zone of up to 100 feet, the new version gives the NYPD the power to decide on a case-by-case basis whether there should be a buffer zone, how big it will be and and how long it will be enforced.
Police would also be required to implement the zone and tell protesters and those entering and leaving a house of worship that a buffer zone has been set up, according to the bill.
Establishing buffer zones has been a hot-button issue for months, after pro-Palestinian protesters demonstrated outside a number of synagogues. Protesters at a demonstration in Queens chanted slogans in support of Hamas, which drew condemnation across the political spectrum, including from Mayor Zohran Mamdani and U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
First Amendment and civil liberties advocates have been skeptical and argue the law is unconstitutional.
If the bill is passed, the NYPD commissioner will have to present a plan to the mayor and City Council speaker for approval. The bill’s stated goal will be to protect protesters’ First Amendment rights while also shielding worshippers from intimidation or interference.
If the bill is passed, the plan will have to be implemented by the police commissioner in 120 days.