Anti-Israel protesters who display the flag of terror groups such as Hamas or Hezbollah could face up to four years behind bars under a new state bill.
The proposed Stand Against Flags of Enemy Terrorists Act would expand the definition of aggravated harassment in the first degree — a class E felony — to include instances when a person displays a symbol of a foreign terrorist organization with the intent to harass, annoy, threaten or another person, according to state Sen. Brad Hoylman-Sigal and Assemblyman Micah Lasher, Manhattan Democrats who are set to introduce the bill this week.
New York has long recognized there are some symbols that “cross the line” from free speech to fomenting hate and harassment — “and the emblems of mass-murdering terrorist organizations certainly belong in that category,” Lasher told The Post.
State law already criminalizes the display of hate symbols such as swastikas, flaming crosses and nooses.
Jewish New Yorkers have been harassed or threatened because of their religion and ethnicity particularly after Oct. 7, 2023, when the Palestinian terror group Hamas launched its horrific massacre on Israel, sparking a war and violent renewed conflicts with other terrorists such as Lebanon’s Hezbollah.
Anti-Israel protesters in the city have since become infamous for waving, drawing and displaying flags, emblems, logos and other symbols of recognized foreign terrorist organizations such as Hamas and Hezbollah.
For example, more than 150 anti-Israel protesters gathered in Washington Square Park in Manhattan on Feb. 23 — and a Hezbollah flag was prominently displayed as the crowd chanted anti-Israel and
antisemitic slogans to honor fallen Hamas leaders instrumental in planning Oct. 7.
“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.
“No one should be allowed to threaten or harass a New Yorker because they’re Jewish, or any other aspect of their identity protected under state law,” he said.
“We’ve long prohibited using symbols of Neo-Nazis and the KKK to intimidate New Yorkers, and now it’s time to expand that policy under the S.A.F.E.T.Y. Act to add the symbols of foreign terrorist organizations.”
Lasher added, “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.”
Eric Goldstein, CEO of the United Jewish Appeal Federation of New York, called the rise in antisemitic
harassment in New York “alarming.
“No one should have to face intimidation or the feeling that they are unsafe because of their Jewish identity,” he said. “The S.A.F.E.T.Y. Act is a necessary and sensible measure to prevent the use of terrorist symbols as a tool of hate and intimidation.”
The introduction of the bill comes amid continuing turmoil on New York’s college campuses.
Last week, an unruly mob of keffiyeh-wearing anti-Israel protesters took over the college administration building at Barnard College in Manhattan and assaulted a security guard.
Gov. Kathy Hochul and CUNY also cancelled an event last week at the City College campus in Harlem because of security concerns involving anti-Israel protesters.
