U.S. News
DOJ Targets Synagogue Protesters With New Approach
Clear Facts
- The Justice Department is expanding its use of the FACE Act to prosecute those disrupting religious worship, specifically at synagogues.
- Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon emphasized aggressive action against antisemitic incidents following the October 7, 2023, attacks on Israel.
- The department has initiated lawsuits, settlements, and prosecutions to address antisemitic discrimination and violence.
The FACE Act now serves as the Justice Department’s tool against intimidation, threats, and obstruction at places of worship. Dhillon confirmed its pioneering use to defend synagogues and churches, signaling broad federal involvement against those who interfere with religious freedom.
“It was our pioneering application of the FACE Act to defend Jewish synagogues that paved the way for its use to defend churches,” Dhillon said.
Officials recently filed a civil lawsuit against demonstrators accused of disrupting services at a synagogue in West Orange, New Jersey. Additional incidents across the country are under review as potential cases.
Harmeet Dhillon announced a new Second Amendment section to protect gun rights and challenge state restrictions.
The Civil Rights Division’s focus intensified as antisemitic acts increased after the October 7 Hamas attacks, including vandalism and harassment at religious gatherings. Dhillon declared that attacks on any faith threaten all Americans’ civil rights.
“Antisemitism is an American problem, not a Jewish problem,” Dhillon said. “It strikes at the heart of who we are as a nation.”
The department’s broader campaign includes settlements with Columbia and Northwestern Universities over alleged discrimination and civil actions against businesses accused of refusing service to Jewish customers. Hate crime prosecutions for violent antisemitic attacks are also underway.
Dhillon clarified that while protest is protected speech, trespass and blocking access to worship go beyond constitutional limits. She made clear law enforcement is not only reacting but proactively defending Americans’ freedoms.
“We are not just reacting,” she said. “We are proactively defending the freedoms that make this nation exceptional.”
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