{"id":736176,"date":"2026-04-18T07:00:28","date_gmt":"2026-04-18T07:00:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/736176\/"},"modified":"2026-04-18T07:00:28","modified_gmt":"2026-04-18T07:00:28","slug":"mamdani-allies-want-veto-for-protest-buffer-zone-bill","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/736176\/","title":{"rendered":"Mamdani Allies Want Veto for Protest \u2018Buffer Zone\u2019 Bill"},"content":{"rendered":"

Labor and other allies of Mayor Zohran Mamdani<\/a> are urging him to veto one of two City Council bills aimed at restricting protests around educational facilities<\/a>, saying the \u201cradical overreach\u201d of the bill limits free speech and endangers New Yorkers.<\/p>\n

The two \u201cbuffer zone\u201d bills passed March 26 with the goal of targeting hate crimes across the city, with one bill related to religious sites and the other for schools and education facilities.<\/p>\n

The religious site bill passed 44-to-5, a veto-proof majority, but the other passed by a 30-to-19 margin \u2014 which the mayor could veto.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The buffer zone laws rose from demonstrations last year outside a pair of synagogues in Manhattan and Queens where some protesters chanted in support of Hamas. The synagogues were hosting an organization that helps American Jews emigrate to Israel and the Israel-occupied West Bank. Critics said Mamdani\u2019s initial comments failed to condemn<\/a> the pro-Hamas slogans.<\/p>\n

The bill focused on \u201ceducational facilities\u201d comes after college campuses across the city were rocked by protests against the Gaza war<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Nearly a dozen organizations sent Mamdani a letter on Friday imploring him to veto the bill creating security perimeters around schools and other \u201ceducational facilities,\u201d with opponents saying the language is so broad that any location could be deemed one.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cBy defining \u2018educational facility\u2019 as any place where \u2018educational programming takes place\u2019 and not solely traditional educational institutions, 175-B functionally subjects any building in this city to the proposed law, including the more than 200 public libraries,\u201d the letter said.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"\"Demonstrators use flares near the City College pro-Palestinian encampment shortly before the camp was cleared by the NYPD, April 30, 2024. Credit: Sajina Shrestha\/NYCCity News Service<\/p>\n

It was signed by the steering committee of the People\u2019s Majority, along with the union representing CUNY professors, United Auto Workers Region 9A, Desis Rising Up and Moving and other organizations.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe broad reach of the legislation again means that the NYPD<\/a> must create a plan for just about every building in this city,\u201d the letter said.<\/p>\n

Speaker Julie Menin<\/a> said last month the bills will stop hate crimes.\u00a0\u201cThe increase in hateful acts across the city is absolutely abhorrent, and we have to do something about it,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

\"FreeFree speech advocates protest at City Hall against a bill to create a protest buffer zone around schools and houses of worship, Feb. 25, 2026. Credit: Ben Fractenberg\/THE CITY<\/p>\n

Mamdani can veto the bills within 30 days of their passage in the Council, giving him until April 25. He said Thursday he\u2019s still weighing his options.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve heard from a number of New Yorkers about their concerns about aspects of this legislation,\u201d Mamdani said. \u201cAnd I will be making a decision on that shortly.\u201d<\/p>\n

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