Congress Must Act to Protect Worshippers' Right to Pray in Peace

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Marvin Gerber, a member of Beth Israel Congregation in Ann Arbor, Michigan, has had to walk past protesters holding antisemitic signs and chants for the past 25 years every Saturday as he goes to pray at his synagogue. He argues that Congress should pass a federal law creating reasonable buffer zones around houses of worship to protect the right to freely exercise religion without fear of intimidation or harassment.

Why it matters

This issue extends beyond the Jewish community, as churches, mosques, temples, and other faith groups across the country have faced similar tactics of targeted intimidation at their places of worship. Protecting the right to freely practice religion is a core American value, and creating federal safeguards could help ensure all Americans can worship without fear.

The details

Gerber has been part of a lawsuit, Gerber v. Herskovitz, that challenged the weekly protests outside his synagogue, but the court ruled that the FACE Act does not prohibit the persistent, targeted close-proximity intimidation tactics used by the protesters. New York and some states are considering creating buffer zones around houses of worship, but Gerber argues a federal baseline law is needed to provide consistent protection across the country.

• For the past 25 years, Gerber has had to walk past protesters every Saturday as he goes to pray at his synagogue in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
• A few months ago, a pro-Hamas mob harassed congregants outside Manhattan's Park East Synagogue, prompting action in Albany and New York City.

What they’re saying

What’s next

Congress should pass a federal law barring targeted protests within a reasonable distance of entrances, driveways or parking lots of houses of worship during service hours, with authority for local police to extend that perimeter when necessary for safety or crowd control.