Written by Don Byrd
The U.S. Supreme Court surprised many, including me, by declining to hear the Bronx Householdcase late last year, leaving in place the 2nd Circuit’s ruling that NY City is within its rights to bar churches from meeting in public school buildings. City officials subsequently notified churches of deadlines to stop using school premises for worship services, but now some are pushing back against the policy. A group of protesters including clergy were arrested last week after attempting to block access to the city’s Law Department.
“It’s just crazy that they’re forcing the churches to leave in six weeks,” Councilman Fernando Cabrera said after he was handcuffed, booked on a trespass charge and released. “They should absolutely allow the houses of worship to continue doing what they are doing. It has never negatively affected anyone.”
The demonstrators were arrested when they refused to move from the entrance to the city’s Law Department in Manhattan, police said. All were charged with trespassing. Cabrera said the demonstrators were kneeling in prayer.
