California Gov. Gavin Newsom signs bill to create safe spaces around synagogues

California Governor Gavin Newsom signed AB 2664, creating 100-foot protective zones around houses of worship. The law prohibits approaching within eight feet of a congregant to distribute leaflets, hold signs, or engage in oral protests intended to harass, obstruct, threaten, or intimidate. Violations carry fines up to $1,000 and/or six months imprisonment. The bill followed a violent pro-Palestinian protest at Wilshire Boulevard Temple in Los Angeles last December.

California Governor Gavin Newsom signed AB 2664, a law creating 100-foot protective zones around houses of worship. Within these zones, no one may approach within eight feet of a congregant without consent to distribute leaflets, hold signs, or engage in oral protests intended to harass, obstruct, threaten, or intimidate. Violations carry fines up to $1,000 and/or six months imprisonment, with second violations raising penalties to $5,000 and one year. The bill was signed at Wilshire Boulevard Temple in Los Angeles, the site of a violent pro-Palestinian protest last December where demonstrators blocked entry, destroyed property, and assaulted a security guard. The legislation was introduced by Assembly member Rebecca Bauer-Kahan and drafted by Jewish California. It passed with 34 of 40 State Senate votes and 61 of 80 State Assembly votes. The Council on American-Islamic Relations opposed the bill, arguing it infringes on free speech. Newsom has until September 30 to sign or veto four other Jewish-community-related bills, including SB 1387, which would expand the definition of ethnicity to include Jewish identity on state data collection forms.