New York 'buffer' bills part of wider crackdown on leftist protests

"Two bills, dubbed the "Buffer Act," initially aspired to apply buffer zones of "up to 100 feet" outside houses of worship and "up to 25 feet" outside educational facilities. Both bills were amended to remove explicit distances after the New York Police Department (NYPD) intervened, rendering both effectively redundant to existing NYPD procedure against blocking entrances and exits."

"Despite the bills' adjustments, a coalition of organizations for abortion rights, Palestinian liberation, the New York Civil Liberties Union (NYCLU), and others spoke out against the proposals, which came as lawmakers introduced similar buffer bills on the state level. The groups have vowed to continue organizing against legislation they say intends to criminalize protest and institute censorship zones."

"Besides actions from city and state lawmakers as well as the governor, protesters are also being targeted by the Department of Justice (DOJ), which has used the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act of 1994 -intended to protect abortion clinics-to crack down on pro-Palestine and other organizers."

The New York City Council's Committee to Combat Hate held a hearing on February 25 to introduce buffer zone legislation around houses of worship and educational institutions in response to pro-Palestine protests. Initial bills proposed 100-foot zones around houses of worship and 25-foot zones around educational facilities. After NYPD intervention, explicit distances were removed, making the bills effectively redundant to existing NYPD procedures that already prohibit blocking entrances and exits. The NYPD already creates buffer zones based on departmental discretion. Despite amendments, coalitions supporting abortion rights, Palestinian liberation, and civil liberties organizations opposed the proposals, arguing they criminalize protest and create censorship zones. Similar buffer bills were introduced at the state level. Additionally, the Department of Justice has used the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act of 1994 to target pro-Palestine organizers.

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