{
  "id": 243022,
  "title": "US lawmakers seek 100-foot buffer zone around houses of worship to protect against protests",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/07/us-lawmakers-seek-100-foot-buffer-zone-around-houses-of-worship-to",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-07T01:01:04.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Jerusalem Post",
    "slug": "jerusalem-post",
    "url": "https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/article-904837"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "In a bipartisan effort to protect houses of worship from disruptive protests, lawmakers have introduced federal legislation titled the \"Right to Worship Act\". The bill, introduced by Senators Ted Cruz and Elissa Slotkin, alongside Representatives Brad Knott and Tom Suozzi, would establish a 100-foot buffer zone around places of worship during religious services. The measure mirrors similar legislation recently enacted in New York and aims to uphold the First Amendment's guarantee of religious freedom.\n\nCruz stated, \"The First Amendment guarantees every American the right to freely exercise their faith, and Congress has a duty to ensure that guarantee is met.\" The legislation also outlines civil penalties for offenders and provides pathways for individuals to seek court orders and damages in federal court.\n\nHowever, the bill does not require houses of worship to make their service schedules public. The sponsors clarify that the legislation targets conduct, not the content of protesters' speech. This move comes in response to a series of protests outside synagogues this year, with the New York City Council having passed a local buffer zone bill in March due to similar issues.\n\nThe Anti-Defamation League, led by Jonathan Greenblatt, supports the bill, emphasizing that no one should have to deal with hostile crowds while praying. This legislation follows a similar attempt, the \"SACRED Act\", introduced by Suozzi in April, which has yet to progress in the House. The push for this federal legislation is part of a broader effort to shield places of worship from protest disruptions, a sentiment echoed by Suozzi, who has been vocal about addressing antisemitism within the Republican coalition.",
  "summary": "A bipartisan group of lawmakers has introduced a federal bill aimed at protecting houses of worship from disruptive protests, following a series of demonstrations outside synagogues this year. The Right to Worship Act, introduced by Sens. Ted Cruz and Elissa Slotkin, along with Reps. Brad Knott and Tom Suozzi, would establish a 100-foot buffer zone around religious buildings during services, similar to legislation recently enacted in New York. The bill would also provide civil penalties for offenders and allow individuals to seek court orders and damages in federal court. The legislation aims to protect the right to freely exercise faith without facing hostility, and is seen as the latest attempt to insulate places of worship from protest following previous bills such as the SACRED Act.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}