The California chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-CA), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today expressed disappointment in Gov. Gavin Newsom’s signature on Assembly Bill (AB) 2664, warning that the new law is meant to deter and criminalize peaceful protest near houses of worship that choose to host illegal sales of stolen Palestinian land.
CAIR-CA, along with ACLU California Action and Jewish community organizations, opposed AB 2664 because houses of worship often host political speakers, advocacy campaigns, commercial activities and other events unrelated to worship.
The organization warned that the bill could shield those activities from lawful public dissent, including peaceful protests outside religious institutions hosting foreign military personnel, partisan political events or real estate companies involved in the sale of property in illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank.
AB 2664 creates a 100-foot zone around entrances and exits of houses of worship. Within that area, a person may not intentionally approach within eight feet of someone entering or leaving, without consent, to hand out literature, display a sign, or engage in oral protest or education.
A first violation is a misdemeanor punishable by up to six months in county jail, a fine of up to $1,000, or both.
CAIR-CA argued throughout the legislative process that California already has laws addressing violence, threats, harassment, intimidation and obstruction at houses of worship and that AB 2664 extends criminal penalties to conduct that can include advocacy protected by the First Amendment.
CAIR-CA engaged with the bill’s author and lead sponsor to address its free-speech concerns. However, lead proponents declined proposed amendments that would have narrowed the bill’s impact on constitutionally protected speech.
In a statement, CAIR-CA Legislative and Government Affairs Director Oussama Mokeddem said:
“Every Californian deserves to worship safely and without fear of violence, threats or harassment. But protecting houses of worship should not come at the expense of peaceful speech and protest.
“By signing AB 2664, the governor has approved a law that risks chilling lawful advocacy in public spaces and gives law enforcement too much discretion over constitutionally protected activity. That concern is especially serious when religious institutions host political speakers, commercial events or other activities unrelated to worship. Religious institutions should not receive special protection from public accountability when they choose to serve as venues for political or commercial activity, such as the illegal sale of property in the occupied West Bank.
“We are seeing a concerning escalation in the ethnic cleansing of Palestinians in the West Bank by illegal Israeli settlers. We also know that some of this illegally occupied land has been offered for sale exclusively to Jewish Americans at events hosted by American synagogues. If a house of worship in America chooses to serve as a platform for illegal land sales meant to normalize Palestinian displacement, Americans should be able to peacefully demonstrate against that immoral activity.
“This anti-speech law, alongside federal attempts to shield illegal land sales from criticism, is a desperate attempt to silence the growing opposition among the American people to the illegal occupation and ethnic cleansing of Palestinian land.”
Recent amendments to the bill narrowed the eight-foot restriction to people seeking to enter or exit a house of worship, but CAIR-CA said the changes did not resolve concerns about the law’s geographic reach, criminal penalties and use of subjective terms such as “intentionally approach.”
CAIR-CA and civil liberties advocates, including the ACLU, also warned that the measure could lead to uneven or selective enforcement against protesters and marginalized communities.
CAIR-CA supports strong protections for mosques, synagogues, churches and other houses of worship against violence, threats, harassment and obstruction, while maintaining that those protections should not restrict lawful civic engagement or First Amendment rights.
CAIR-CA is a chapter of CAIR, America’s largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance understanding of Islam, protect civil rights, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
CONTACT: CAIR Greater Los Angeles Area Communications Manager Enjy El-Kadi, (714) 851-4851 or [email protected]; CAIR Sacramento Valley/Central California Senior Operations & Development Manager Elle Dunlap, [email protected]; CAIR San Diego Executive Director Tazheen Nizam, (760) 201-7626, [email protected]; CAIR San Francisco Bay Area Communications Manager Lorrie Adam, (408) 498-5779 or [email protected]