New York lawmakers introduced legislation that would make it a felony to brandish flags of terrorist groups.
The legislation comes in response to anti-Israel protesters having waved Hamas and Hezbollah flags.
On Feb. 23, approximately 150 anti-Israel protesters assembled in Washington Square Park in Manhattan for a vigil for Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, who was killed last September in an airstrike. A Hezbollah flag was waving as the crowd chanted what are widely perceived as anti-semitic slogans.
Democratic State Sen. Brad Hoylman-Sigal and Democratic Assemblyman Micah Lasher are set to introduce the measure this week. The Stand Against Flags of Enemy Terrorists Act would make raising the flags a Class E felony by expanding the definition of aggravated harassment to include displaying a symbol of a foreign terrorist organization with the intent to harass, annoy, or threaten another person.
Lasher told the New York Post that protesters “cross the line” when they brandish symbols and flags championing a terrorist organization.
“The SAFETY Act will establish an important new tool in the fight against dangerous antisemitism that has sickeningly flourished since the horrific terrorist attack against Israel on October 7th,” Lasher said.
Hoylman-Sigal mentioned how New York already prohibits displaying symbols of Neo-Nazis and the KKK, and legislation should be passed to prohibit glorifying foreign terrorist groups.
“Since the October 7th terror attack in Israel, we’ve witnessed a disturbing rise in antisemitic instances here at home, including using symbols and flags of terrorist organizations to harass and intimidate Jewish New Yorkers at their synagogues, businesses and homes, simply because they’re Jewish,” Hoylman-Sigal said in a statement.
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Just last week, anti-Israel protesters took over a building on Barnard College’s campus and assaulted a security guard. Gov. Kathy Hochul (D-NY) and the City University of New York also canceled an event last week at City College because of security concerns involving the anti-Israel protesters.
Israel and Hamas have negotiated a ceasefire, but tensions are still high in the region as the two parties seek to work out the hostage exchange.