Buffer zone bills debated as protecting freedom to worship

Jewish groups are rallying around federal legislation that would establish 100-foot buffer zones around houses of worship to prevent demonstrators from interrupting services.

“No one should have to push through a hostile crowd or shout over a bullhorn in an attempt to pray,” said Anti-Defamation League CEO Jonathan Greenblatt.

Civil rights groups, however, aren’t so keen on bills like those introduced in the U.S. Senate by Sens. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and Elissa Slotkin, D-Mich., and in the U.S. House by Reps. Brad Knott, R-N.C., and Thomas Suozzi, D-N.Y.

“What we’re seeing described as buffer zone bills are really measures that are seeking to restrict protest or other First Amendment rights within a certain perimeter of covered facilities,” said Naila Awan, co-director of policy at the American Civil Liberties Union of New York, on a podcast following passage of that state’s buffer-zone law in May.

“These proposals, like what we saw popping up in the state, they’re things that could restrict the ability to hold protest marches, restrict the ability to picket for unions, and also restrict the ability for people to protest events that are not about religion or anything else.”

The U.S. Senate’s “Right to Worship Act” and the “SACRED Act” version in the U.S. House would establish a barrier around houses of worship an hour before and after worship services, and impose fines of $2,500 for the first offense, $5,000 for the second offense and $10,000 for third and subsequent violations.

“The First Amendment guarantees every American the right to freely exercise their faith, and Congress has a duty to ensure that guarantee is met,” Cruz said. “In recent years, we have seen organized acts of hate meant to disrupt and deny that right, which have been untenably defended as speech.”

A bipartisan push for buffer-zone bills kicked off in multiple states this year after demonstrators barged into a Southern Baptist church in Minnesota Jan. 18 to protest Immigration and Customs Enforcement actions in St. Paul.

The legislation New York Gov. Kathy Hochul signed into law followed protests outside Park East Synagogue in Manhattan for renting space to an organization that helps Jews move to the occupied West Bank and other parts of Israel. The New York Times reported the demonstrations included both pro-Israel and pro-Palestinian protesters focused on the synagogue’s “Great Israel Real Estate Event.”

Meanwhile, efforts to enact legislation to protect congregations from immigration enforcement actions has yet to pick up steam. The Trump administration reversed decades of policy by opening houses of worship to ICE raids.

“Right now, there are no policies in place to prevent federal immigration enforcement agents from deliberately targeting spaces that represent key pillars of civic, religious, and community life,” Church World Service noted Aug. 10.

“The threat of immigration enforcement at ‘sensitive locations’ — such as houses of worship, schools, hospitals, courthouses, food pantries, and places where people receive essential services — is preventing refugees and immigrants across the country from accessing the resources they need.”

Other religious groups have gotten behind the buffer-zone legislation introduced in Congress. According to Suozzi, the Muslim, Sikh and Hindu organizations support the bills.

“The Hindu American community welcomes the introduction of the SACRED Act as a critical step in safeguarding our places of worship,” said Samir Kalra, managing director of policy and programs at the Hindu American Foundation. “In recent years, we have seen a disturbing rise in the targeting and desecration of Hindu mandirs across America, which has deeply shaken the sense of safety for our families and devotees.”

No one should have to endure threats and harassment to attend religious services, Suozzi added. “Exercising your right to worship should not require you to exhibit particular courage as you enter your synagogue, church, mosque, temple, mandir or gurdwara.”