Bipartisan Lawmakers Seek 100-Foot Buffer Zone to Protect Houses of Worship From Protests

Church protesters could face tougher penalties under rare bipartisan crackdown

A bipartisan House bill would impose civil fines for protests that disrupt religious services within 100 feet of a house of worship while preserving First Amendment protections.

US lawmakers seek 100-foot buffer zone around houses of worship to protect prayer goers from protests

While the legislation would target protesters who knowingly disrupt scheduled religious services, houses of worship would not be required to make their schedules public. By Grace Gilson, JTA A bipartisan group of lawmakers introduced federal legislation Thursday in the House and Senate aimed at protecting houses of worship from disruptive demonstrations, following a series of protests outside of synagogues this year. The Right to Worship Act was…

US officials push for bill to create buffer zone around places of worship

Those efforts have now been joined by Slotkin, who is Jewish, and Cruz, who has often taken aim at antisemitism within the Republican coalition over the past year.

Cruz, Slotkin lead bipartisan push for federal protest buffer around houses of worship

“The First Amendment guarantees every American the right to freely exercise their faith,” Sen. Ted Cruz said.

Slotkin joins Cruz, Knott, Suozzi in leading federal buffer zone bill

Sen. Elissa Slotkin (D-MI) joined Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) and Reps. Brad Knott (R-NC) and Tom Suozzi (D-NY) on Thursday in introducing the Right to Worship Act, a federal bill that would ban activity that knowingly disrupts or impedes access to scheduled religious services within 100 feet of the entrance to a house of worship during that time. The bill is the product of months of negotiations among lawmakers and outside supporters. Cruz, Knott and …

Protecting Prayer From Intimidation

The Right To Worship Act is laid before Congress in hopes of making safe America’s religious sanctuaries.