Thursday, October 1, 2026
Calls to protect religious institutions from harassment and intimidation took center stage last Friday morning at the Holocaust Memorial and Tolerance Center of Nassau County.
There, U.S. Rep. Tom Suozzi unveiled the bipartisan Safeguarding Access to Congregations and Religious Establishments from Disruption Act, known as the SACRED Act, legislation Suozzi said would address growing concerns among his constituents about safety at houses of worship.
“There’s too much hate in our country right now,” Suozzi said. “A lot of people are being intimidated as they enter into their religious institution to practice their faith.”
The bill, co-led by Rep. Max Miller, a Republican from Ohio, would make it a federal crime to intentionally intimidate, obstruct or harass individuals within 100 feet of a place of worship, including blocking their path or approaching within 8 feet with the intent to harass.
Suozzi said the measure “ensures that people can access their place of worship safely and without obstruction, while still preserving First Amendment protections for peaceful expression.” He added that it draws “a clear line: intimidation and threats have no place in our communities.”
“The safety of congregants and the freedom to worship is integral to a healthy democracy,” Rabbi Irwin Huberman, of Congregation Tifereth Israel, wrote in a statement to the Herald. “This bill is an important step towards assuring religious freedom in our country.”
“We at the Holocaust Memorial and Tolerance Center understand religious persecution,” Alan Mindel, the center’s chairman, said, “and so we are so proud to stand with Congressman Suozzi in protecting the rights of all Americans, regardless of where they pray — a synagogue, mosque or church. Their right to do so free of danger and harassment will now be granted.”
Leaders of several national advocacy and faith organizations attended the event, including representatives of the Anti-Defamation League, the American Jewish Committee, Hadassah and the Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America.
According to the Anti-Defamation League, antisemitism has reached historic levels, with 9,354 incidents recorded in 2024, including 1,702 at Jewish institutions alone, underscoring concerns about the safety of those attending religious services.
“Religious freedom thrives where respect prevails,” Azhar Azeez, CEO of the Islamic Society of North America, said. “Let every place of worship be a sanctuary free from intimidation, obstruction or harassment so all people may practice their faith in peace, dignity and safety within every sacred space.”
The proposal has also drawn political criticism. Mike LiPetri, who is challenging Suozzi for his 3rd Congressional District seat in November, said he believed the congressman had not been sufficiently vocal on the issue in the past.
“Now in an election year he wants to take action?” LiPetri wrote in a statement to the Herald. “We’re not buying it.”
Rep. Laura Gillen, who was not in attendance, emphasized the need for additional protections.
“In the wake of rising hate crimes in our own backyard, we must safeguard our houses of worship and ensure every Long Islander has the freedom to gather without fear of violence,” Gillen wrote. “Establishing buffer zones is a step in the right direction. I have also fought tirelessly to expand access to nonprofit security and hate crime prevention grants on a bipartisan basis. These measures will give our religious communities vital tools to keep themselves safe.”
The legislation comes as legal challenges to similar local protections continue. Earlier this month, the New York Civil Liberties Union filed a lawsuit against Nassau County, County Executive Bruce Blakeman and Police Commissioner Patrick Ryder, arguing that the county’s Religious Safety Act — which establishes buffer zones around houses of worship — violates the U.S. Constitution.
Suozzi stressed the importance of balancing constitutional rights with public safety, and added that the country is living in “increasingly volatile times.”
“I strongly support the bipartisan effort led by Congressman Tom Suozzi and Congressman Max Miller to establish a buffer zone protecting houses of worship across the country,” Michael Blitz, president of Congregation Tifereth Israel, wrote in a statement to the Herald. “In a time of rising threats and polarization, this measure affirms a simple principle: every person should be able to gather, pray, and live their faith without fear.”
