The Justice Department is set to broaden how federal civil rights laws are applied, particularly targeting protesters accused of disrupting religious services. Officials have pointed to a recent case involving a synagogue as a framework for this enhanced enforcement.
Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon, who leads the Civil Rights Division, highlighted the application of the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act—often associated with abortion clinic protests—to disturbances at Jewish places of worship. She remarked, “This groundbreaking use of the FACE Act to defend Jewish synagogues opens the door for its application in protecting churches,” at a recent conference on anti-Semitism and extremism held at George Washington University. This approach aims to differentiate between protected speech and unlawful behavior clearly.
The FACE Act criminalizes intentional interference with individuals exercising their religious or abortion rights through force, threats, or physical obstruction. According to Dillon, this law empowers federal authorities to act when protests escalate into disruptions or threats against worshippers.
Dillon cited a civil lawsuit filed by the Justice Department against demonstrators who disrupted services at a synagogue in West Orange, New Jersey, marking it as the first case of its kind using this particular law. She noted the department’s ongoing investigations into similar incidents and indicated that more enforcement actions may be on the horizon.
She stressed that the Office of Civil Rights has adopted a more aggressive stance in response to the rise in anti-Semitic incidents—such as harassment and vandalism—since the attack on Israel by Hamas on October 7, 2023. “Antisemitism is an American issue, not just a Jewish concern,” she stated, calling it fundamental to national identity.
In addition to synagogue protests, Dillon mentioned several recent initiatives from the Justice Department aimed at combating anti-Semitism, including significant settlements with Columbia and Northwestern Universities over accusations of creating a discriminatory environment, and a civil suit against a California coffee shop that allegedly refused service to a Jewish patron.
Moreover, she referenced federal hate crime prosecutions in connection with violent anti-Semitic acts, highlighting a prompt response from the department when legal evidence is available to support charges.
While Dillon affirmed that lawful protests are protected under the First Amendment, she clarified that blocking access to religious services, entering synagogues unlawfully, and ignoring valid police orders fall outside these protections. “Our response isn’t solely reactive,” she remarked. “We’re dedicated to safeguarding the freedoms that define our country.”
