Suffolk advances bill to limit protests at houses of worship

Suffolk County lawmakers advanced a bill to set a boundary for demonstrators around places of religious worship "to protect public safety and the right to religious freedom."

The bill restricts protesters from standing within 35 feet of the entrance or driveway of the place of religious worship or within 10 feet of people as they enter or leave for services.

Legis. Stephanie Bontempi (R-Centerport), the bill’s sponsor, said the legislation mirrors what was recently approved in Nassau County. Similar legislation is being proposed in New York City and New York State.

"I think it's a very reasonable, very good bill," she said in an interview Tuesday. "So many of these things seem so obvious to me. Why didn't we already do that?"

The legislature held a public hearing on the legislation at Tuesday’s general meeting and no one spoke for or against the bill. The legislature can adopt the bill at its April 21 general meeting.

Bontempi said she views the bill as a protection of free speech and freedom of expression.

"It's just to keep that safe distance so that nobody feels threatened or concerned about sharing their opinion or practicing their religion," she said.

If passed, violators would face a $250 fine, up to 1 year in jail or both, according to the legislation, which sets the penalty as a misdemeanor.

Within that 35-foot boundary, the bill bars anyone "to demonstrate, picket, protest, distribute literature, display signs, engage in oral advocacy or other forms of expression or symbolic conduct."

Suffolk County police or another local law enforcement agency would first issue a "verbal, written or other communicative or expressive instruction" to the demonstrator, according to the bill.

County Executive Edward P. Romaine, a Republican, said he supports the bill, according to spokesman Mike Martino.

"Houses of worship are a sacred respite for anyone practicing their faith and the bill, while preserving First Amendment rights, provides protection for those who are honoring their faith," Martino said in a statement.

Nassau lawmakers unanimously approved the "Religious Safety Act" in December. That legislation came after a controversial protest outside the Park East Synagogue in Manhattan’s Upper East Side, Newsday previously reported.

The New York City Council recently mulled its own legislation to restrict protesters but at a distance set by the NYPD, Newsday previously reported. New York State is also considering legislation to create a 25-foot "buffer zone" around houses of worship.

Legis. Jason Richberg (D-West Babylon), the minority leader, said he has some questions on the Suffolk bill he hopes to clarify.

"I understand why we’re doing it," he said, but questioned what happens if 35 feet from an entrance is the middle of the street. 

A demonstration outside a Minnesota church made national headlines in January when journalist Don Lemon was arrested alongside demonstrators at an anti-immigration enforcement protest after entering the church. Lemon and others face federal charges of conspiracy and interfering with the First Amendment rights of worshippers, The Associated Press reported.

By Joe Werkmeister

joe.werkmeister@newsday.com

Joe Werkmeister joined Newsday in 2022 and covers Suffolk County government and politics. He is a graduate of St. Bonaventure University and previously worked as the editor of two North Fork community newspapers.

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