NEW YORK — New York state lawmakers are advancing a proposal to restrict demonstrations near houses of worship after an anti-Israel crowd surrounded a Manhattan synagogue, according to the New York Post.
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The legislation, introduced by Assemblymember Micah Lasher and Sen. Sam Sutton, would establish a 25-foot buffer zone around entrances, driveways, and parking areas of religious institutions. Violations would be treated as a Class A misdemeanor with penalties of up to one year in jail. The measure would also apply to abortion clinics.
The proposal follows an incident outside Park East Synagogue on the Upper East Side, where roughly 200 protesters gathered during a Nefesh B’Nefesh event. Demonstrators blocked and heckled attendees, displayed anti-Israel signs, and created a tense environment as people attempted to enter or leave the building.
Additional lawmakers whose districts include significant Jewish communities have joined in support of the bill, along with major Jewish organizations that view the legislation as necessary to protect access to religious spaces.
The initiative aims to ensure that worshippers can enter and exit houses of worship safely amid a rise in confrontational protests linked to the Israel-Hamas conflict.
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