Councilman and pastors among protesters arrested outside city office

A city councilman and several pastors were arrested Thursday morning as they protested a court decision that prohibits religious groups from holding worship services in city schools, officials said.

Seven people, including Councilman Fernando Cabrera (D-Bronx), were arrested just after 9 a.m. for trespassing at the office of the city’s law department, police said.

“I did not plan to be arrested, but I can imagine no greater cause,” Cabrera said in a statement.

The city’s education department has set a Feb. 12 deadline for religious groups to find alternate locations to hold services.