NYC Mayor Mamdani vetoes bill to create buffer zones around educational buildings during protests

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani said he is vetoing a bill that would have allowed police to create a security perimeter around educational facilities during protests. 

The City Council bill passed in March, and the deadline for Mamdani to either pass or veto it was Saturday.

The mayor said the bill is too broad, as "everywhere from universities to museums to teaching hospitals could face restrictions."

"This could impact workers protesting ICE, or college students demanding their school divest from fossil fuels or demonstrating in support of Palestinian rights," Mamdani said. "Int. 175-B is not a narrow public safety measure; it is a piece of legislation that has alarmed much of the labor movement, reproductive rights groups, and immigration advocates, among others, across this city."

The mayor is letting a similar bill establishing a perimeter around houses of worship go into effect. 

Jewish organizations "deeply disappointed"

Supporters of the legislation said it is part of an effort to combat the rising tide of hate, including antisemitism and Islamophobia. 

"Ensuring students can enter and exit their schools without fear of harassment or intimidation should not be controversial," City Council Speaker Julie Menin said. "This bill simply requires the NYPD to clearly outline how it will ensure safe access when there are threats of obstruction or physical injury, while fully protecting First Amendment rights."

Staff from the UJA-Federation of New York, JCRC-NY, AJC New York and other Jewish organizations said they are "deeply disappointed."

"Measures like these importantly safeguard institutions against real and growing threats while maintaining people's right to protest," the statement read. "Actions speak louder than words. This veto is a profound failure of City Hall to demonstrate to all New Yorkers that safety is a priority."   

"My sons continue to go to school wearing their kippot proudly," said Hindy Poupko, senior VP of UJA-Federation of New York. "We know of families who feel too scared to do that and their sons have stopped wearing their kippot. So it's definitely a more vulnerable time for our community and other communities."

NYCLU commends Mamdani's veto

The New York Civil Liberties Union commended Mamdani and said, even if the definition was more refined, they still would not support it. 

"The message that the bill would have sent to New Yorkers is like, we don't love the idea of too many protests in our city," NYCLU Director Donna Lieberman said. "There are anti-harassment laws, there are assault laws and there are reasonable time, place and manner restrictions available to the police." 

Houses of worship buffer zones approved

The City Council passed a second, similar bill in March, creating similar perimeters around religious institutions. Mamdani is letting that bill go into effect, saying the final version of it is narrower in scope and effect. 

"The right to worship is as sacred as the right to protest," he said.   

The legislation requires the NYPD to document its existing practices related to demonstrations near houses of worship. It balances the right to protest and the right to prayer, the mayor said. 

Mamdani said the legislation regarding educational buffer zones, "does not have a counterbalance to the right to protest."

Menin, who sponsored both bills, said neither infringes "upon the peaceful right to protest."

The speaker said there will be conversations over the next few weeks about whether there are enough votes to override the veto. The bill passed with 30 votes, four shy of the veto-proof majority.