A new bipartisan bill in Congress would create protest-free buffer zones around houses of worship

(RNS) — A bipartisan bill to prevent demonstrations near houses of worship was introduced in both the House of Representatives and Senate Thursday (Aug. 6) and has already won the support of several Jewish organizations.

The Right to Worship Act would establish a 100‑foot, protest‑free buffer zone around houses of worship one hour before and one hour after religious services. Anyone violating the buffer zone could be subject to a civil fine beginning at $2,500 and up to $10,000 for additional violations.

The bill follows a less stringent buffer zone law recently passed in New York state after raucous protests erupted outside a Manhattan synagogue as it had rented space to an organization helping Jews move to Israel as well as to settlements in the occupied West Bank. During that November protest outside the Park East Synagogue, there were chants of “death to the IDF,” “globalize the intifada” and “We don’t want no Zionists here.”

The new federal bill was introduced by Reps. Tom Suozzi (D-N.Y.) and Brad Knott (R-N.C.), along with Sens. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.). It was enthusiastically greeted by the Anti-Defamation League, the American Jewish Committee,…