Speaker Menin and Council Member Salaam Hold Interfaith Rally to Combat Hate and Protect Safe Access to Houses of Worship and Schools

Legislation strengthens protections for New Yorkers of all faiths, safeguarding Freedom of Religion and Freedom of Speech

NEW YORK, NY - New York City Council Speaker Julie Menin and Council Member Yusef Salaam, Chair of the Committee to Combat Hate, held an interfaith rally today with elected officials, faith leaders, educators, and advocates from across New York City at City Hall ahead of a Council hearing on a package of bills aimed at combatting antisemitism, Islamophobia, anti-Christian hate, and protecting New Yorkers' access to houses of worship and schools.

The legislative package is part of Speaker Menin's Five-Point Plan to Combat Antisemitism and reflects a broader commitment to confronting hate in all its forms while safeguarding constitutional rights.

"Today we stood together - Jewish, Muslim, Christian, and leaders of many faiths - united in the belief that hate has no place in New York City. These bills are grounded in a simple but urgent principle: every New Yorker should feel safe entering their house of worship or their school," said Speaker Julie Menin. "This legislative package strengthens transparency, improves coordination, and ensures safe access while fully safeguarding First Amendment rights. We must protect freedom of religion and freedom of education while upholding the sacrosanct First Amendment rights that define our city."

"Today, we stand united to ensure that New York City remains a place where all people feel included, safe, and valued," said Council Member Yusef Salaam, Chair of the Committee to Combat Hate. "The recent rise in hate crimes, whether the spray-painted anti-religious graffiti at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Harlem, the hateful anti-Black racist comments made during the recent CEC3 meeting, anti-Muslim attacks in Bay Ridge, or antisemitic vandalism in Gravesend Park, reminds us that the work is far from over. As we review critical legislative measures today, we emphasize the need to ensure that every community, regardless of race, religion, gender, or identity, is protected and that no form of hate is ever tolerated in our city."

The hearing comes amid a continued rise in antisemitic incidents and other hate crimes across the city and nation. The legislative package includes:

• Introduction 1-A, sponsored by Speaker Julie Menin, would require the NYPD to develop and publish a response plan for when there are credible concerns of injury, intimidation, or restriction of movement that prevent access to houses of worship.
• Introduction 22, sponsored by Majority Leader Shaun Abreu, requires the Department of Education to distribute materials to students about the risks of social media and online hate.
• Introduction 165, sponsored by Council Member Eric Dinowitz, would require the NYPD to report on the status of hate crime cases to improve transparency and accountability.
• Introduction 175-A, sponsored by Council Member Eric Dinowitz, would require the NYPD to develop and publish a response plan for when there are credible concerns of injury, intimidation, or restriction of movement that prevent access to schools.
• Introduction 297, sponsored by Council Member Virginia Maloney, would require emergency planning for religious institutions.
• Introduction 327, sponsored by Council Member Mercedes Narcisse, would reimburse nonpublic schools for the cost of video surveillance cameras.
• Introduction 388, sponsored by Council Member Lincoln Restler, would establish a hotline and detailed reporting system for antisemitism and other hate- and bias-related incidents.

Together, Introduction 1-A and Introduction 175 will require the NYPD to develop and publish a clear operational plan explaining how it will address injury, intimidation, and interference while fully respecting constitutional protections. The bills emphasize transparency and accountability in how existing authority is exercised. They do not create new crimes or criminalize protest activity in any way.

As with all legislation, the bills will go through the Council's legislative process. The Committee to Combat Hate will hear testimony from administration officials, civil rights advocates, faith leaders, and members of the public, and the Council will continue to work with stakeholders, the Law Department, the NYPD, and the Mayor's Office as the proposals move forward.

"Every New Yorker deserves to feel safe and respected in their place of worship and their neighborhood," New York Attorney General Letitia James. "Our strength comes from our diversity, and we will never allow fear or prejudice to divide us. I commend Speaker Menin and the City Council for working to protect people of every faith in our city. My office will continue to protect the rights and dignity of New Yorkers and take action whenever hate or bias threatens them."

"Today's bills take a comprehensive approach to combating hate from every angle," said Council Member Lynn Schulman, a member of the Combat Hate Committee and Vice Chair of the Council's Jewish Caucus. "We've seen how rising religious hate can leave communities feeling vulnerable, including the deeply troubling protest outside a synagogue and yeshiva in Kew Gardens Hills. This package - and especially the Speaker's bill establishing security perimeters around houses of worship - strikes the necessary balance between protecting civil liberties and ensuring public safety. It's exactly the kind of action our city must take to safeguard the right to religious expression and keep every New Yorker safe."

"Our legislation reflects the kind of city we intend to be, resilient, proactive, and united," said Council Member Virginia Maloney. "By strengthening coordination and preparedness now, we are building a safer future for every faith community in New York. This package is not just about responding to hate. It is about shaping a city where diversity thrives with confidence and security. Hate will not dictate how New Yorkers live, worship, or gather."

"The growing threat facing the New York Jewish community demands action. More broadly, all people must be able to enter their houses of worship and schools without fear of harassment or intimidation - an assessment shared by a significant majority of New Yorkers across all faiths and backgrounds. The bill being advanced by Speaker Menin and the Council advances that goal through a carefully designed framework that appropriately balances first amendment rights with safety and prevention," said Eric S. Goldstein, CEO, UJA-Federation of New York.

"I commend the New York City Council for taking meaningful steps to confront hate and protect houses of worship across our city," said Imam Maaz Ali of Iqra Masjid. "As an Imam, I have seen firsthand how deeply incidents of hate impact families and entire communities. Our masjids, like all places of worship, should be spaces of peace, prayer, safety, and a place where people can come together as a community to strengthen their connection with one another and God Almighty. These legislative efforts not only strengthen security and transparency, but also invest in education and prevention. Protecting one community ultimately protects us all. We stand united against Islamophobia, and every form of hate, and we are committed to working together to ensure that every New Yorker can practice their faith freely and safely."

"The freedom to gather for worship without fear is fundamental to New York's diverse civic life," said Reverend A. R. Bernard, Christian Cultural Center. "Yet rising incidents of religious harassment and intimidation, including more than 550 reported faith-based hate crimes in 2024, remind us that religious liberty requires practical protections. Houses of worship must remain places of peace, not fear. Reasonable buffer zone legislation provides a balanced approach, protecting both the right to peaceful protest and the safe access of worshippers to their sacred spaces. Supporting this measure affirms our shared commitment to dignity, safety, and religious freedom for all New Yorkers."

"Sadly, we live in a time when many see our schools and houses of worship as places for disruption and harm, instead of places for learning and prayer," said Deacon Kevin McCormack, Catholic Schools Superintendent, Diocese of Brooklyn and Queens."We thank Speaker Menin and the City Council for working to rectify this with the introduction of legislation that will protect churches, synagogues. mosques, temples, and schools."

"The incidents at Park East Synagogue and in Kew Gardens Hills made clear that protests targeting people at their houses of worship cross a red line - threatening public safety and the fundamental right of New Yorkers to practice their faith and return home safely," said Mark Treyger, CEO of JCRC-NY. "This legislation is not about limiting free speech or peaceful protest; it is about enforcing the rights of New Yorkers to enter and leave their houses of worship free from hate, intimidation, harassment, and physical violence. In a city as diverse as ours, protecting civil liberties and protecting people from targeted threats must go hand in hand. At JCRC-NY's 50th anniversary Congressional Breakfast, 95-year-old Holocaust survivor Rabbi Arthur Schneier of Park East Synagogue shared a sobering account of what his community experienced and implored policymakers to act to ensure that no New Yorker - including Jewish New Yorkers - ever feels targeted or unsafe because of their identity. His testimony is a powerful reminder that safety and dignity cannot be assumed, and we appreciate Speaker Julie Menin and the City Council's efforts to affirm that New York City will stand up for both religious freedom and the protection of its communities from hate."

"This legislation speaks to how we live together in a pluralistic society in which we have very strong disagreements and clash with one another over very profound values," said Monsignor Kevin Sullivan, Executive Director Emeritus, Catholic Charities, Archdiocese of New York. "We re-affirm that protestors have every right and duty to make us uncomfortable and even be unpleasant, but not the right to intimidate, bully and threaten violence."

"ADL is proud to testify in support of Speaker Menin's bill providing safe access to houses of worship," said Scott Richman, ADL Regional Director for New York and New Jersey. "ADL has documented unprecedented numbers of antisemitic incidents across New York City, and we have seen multiple incidents targeting synagogues and Jewish institutions. This threat to religious freedom and safety is a widespread issue necessitating legislative intervention. We are grateful to Speaker Menin not only for sponsoring legislation to keep houses of worship safe and accessible, but also for her entire five-point plan to combat antisemitism. It is a critical first step to keep Jews - and all New Yorkers - safe."

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