Religious and civic leaders from across New York City are continuing to protest a policy banning churches from holding worship services in public school buildings with a mass march across the Brooklyn Bridge on Sunday.
Approximately 60 churches, serving primarily low-income, ethnic congregations and neighborhoods, will be evicted from public schools on Feb. 12 under an edict adopted by the city’s Department of Education in December, after the U.S. Supreme Court let stand a ruling saying schools do not violate the First Amendment by refusing to rent their facilities for “worship services.”
Hundreds of people have taken part in protests since the beginning of January, and some have been arrested in the process.
Meanwhile, state legislation to allow churches to meet in public school buildings is moving through the state Legislature in Albany; SB 6087 was unanimously passed by the Senate Education Committee earlier this week.
“I salute the New York State Senate Education Committee on taking bold and decisive action on this important issue,” said City Councilman Fernando Cabrera, one of the organizers of the protests. “I am confident the Assembly will follow suit, and urge Gov. (Andrew) Cuomo to sign the legislation when it reaches his desk.
“I look forward to our march across the Brooklyn Bridge this Sunday. The fight is not over.”
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Read more about the situation and stay abreast of upcoming events.
Read New York City Council Resolution 1155.
Read New York AO 8800.
Read New York SB 6087.
Read the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals decision on the case.
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