New York Bill Aims to Criminalize Terror Group Flags at Anti-Israel Protests

[Social Media]

 

A new legislative proposal in New York could result in anti-Israel protesters facing up to four years in prison if they display flags of recognized terrorist organizations such as Hamas or Hezbollah. The Stand Against Flags of Enemy Terrorists (S.A.F.E.T.Y.) Act seeks to expand the definition of aggravated harassment in the first degree, making it a class E felony to publicly display the symbols of foreign terrorist organizations with the intent to harass, threaten, or intimidate others.  

 

The bill is being introduced by Manhattan Democrats state Sen. Brad Hoylman-Sigal and Assemblyman Micah Lasher. According to Lasher, the proposed law aligns with existing statutes that prohibit the use of hate symbols such as swastikas, nooses, and flaming crosses. “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,” he said.  

 

Jewish New Yorkers have increasingly faced harassment and threats, particularly in the wake of Hamas’ deadly attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. That attack, which resulted in war and renewed conflicts with other groups like Hezbollah, has fueled a surge in antisemitic incidents across New York. Anti-Israel protesters in the city have been known to display the flags and symbols of these organizations, using them to provoke and intimidate.

 

On February 23, more than 150 demonstrators gathered in Washington Square Park, where a Hezbollah flag was raised as protesters chanted antisemitic slogans in tribute to Hamas leaders involved in planning the October 7 attack.  

 

Sen. Hoylman-Sigal expressed concern over this rise in antisemitism, stating, “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.”

 

He emphasized that current laws already prohibit the use of symbols from groups like the Ku Klux Klan and Neo-Nazis to intimidate people and argued that the same restrictions should be applied to symbols associated with foreign terrorist organizations. “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.  

 

Assemblyman Lasher underscored the importance of the bill, describing it as a necessary measure to combat rising antisemitism. “The S.A.F.E.T.Y. 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,” he said.  

 

Eric Goldstein, CEO of the United Jewish Appeal Federation of New York, voiced support for the legislation, calling the rise in antisemitic harassment “alarming.” He stressed the need to ensure that Jewish New Yorkers do not feel unsafe in their own communities. “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 this bill comes at a time when tensions on New York college campuses have been escalating. Last week, a group of anti-Israel protesters, many wearing keffiyehs, took over the administration building at Barnard College in Manhattan and reportedly assaulted a security guard. In another incident, an event scheduled at the City College campus in Harlem was canceled by Gov. Kathy Hochul and CUNY due to security concerns over potential disruptions by anti-Israel demonstrators.  

 

If the bill passes, it would add to the state’s existing measures against hate crimes and antisemitic harassment. It would ensure that the public display of terrorist group symbols with the intent to harass or intimidate is treated as a serious criminal offense, reinforcing New York’s stance against hate and extremism.

 

Based on a report by NYP  2025-03-04

 

 

[Snackbar]

No chance

[Purdey]

I would like to know what J.D. Vance has to say. 

[Luuk Chaai]

arrest them ... do not pass go,,  do not collect money .. just load them on a plane and drop them off in Gaza .. preferably from  1000 ft....  asap 

[impulse]

Prison terms just for holding a flag is a scary proposition.  The start of a very slippery slope.

 

[bamnutsak]

Free speech...

 

unless I don't like what you're saying.

 

Classic.

 

 

Now do Nazi and confederate flags.

 

 

 

[Mike_Hunt]

The courts will strike this down. 

[JonnyF]

1 hour ago, impulse said:

Prison terms just for holding a flag is a scary proposition.  The start of a very slippery slope.

 

 

A slope that the UK under Starmer is already half way down, picking up speed.

 

I suggest the US refrains from such tyranny. 

[Social Media]

A post with conspiracy theory weblink and further unsubstantiated claims have been removed @BangkokHank along with the responses to it.

[jimmybcool]

12 hours ago, bamnutsak said:

Free speech...

 

unless I don't like what you're saying.

 

Classic.

 

 

Now do Nazi and confederate flags.

 

 

 

 

I agree Nazi flags are abhorrent.  I think they are banned in many places but even if not so be it.  The difference is though subtle very real.  Hamas and other current terror groups are committing atrocities NOW not 80 years ago.  The people waving flags for Hamas and other Islamic terror groups are intimating American citizens of Jewish faith NOW.  They wave the flags with intent to intimidate. 

 

Not sure I care about confederate flags since that war is SOOOOOO long ago and they were in rebellion not a terror group or one that committed genocide on millions.  I seriously don't fear a rise of the south again based on some guys with old flags.

 

 

[Harrisfan]

13 hours ago, impulse said:

Prison terms just for holding a flag is a scary proposition.  The start of a very slippery slope.

 

I would fine them. Like a traffic offence. $1000 per flag.

[Evil Penevil]

2 hours ago, impulse said:

Prison terms just for holding a flag is a scary proposition.  The start of a very slippery slope.

 

The crime is not just holding a flag. As the OP explains, the intent to "harass, threaten, or intimidate" is what makes it criminal. My bold text.

 

On 3/3/2025 at 7:04 PM, Social Media said:

The Stand Against Flags of Enemy Terrorists (S.A.F.E.T.Y.) Act seeks to expand the definition of aggravated harassment in the first degree, making it a class E felony to publicly display the symbols of foreign terrorist organizations with the intent to harass, threaten, or intimidate others.  

 

The text of the NY state law that is being amended to include terrorist flags:  https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/PEN/240.31   The national flag of Palestine would NOT be forbidden under the statute, only the flags of terror groups like Hamas or Hezbollah displayed with the intent to intimidate others.  There have been cases where Palestinian supporters have waved terror-group flags in the faces of Jews or in front of synagogues.

 

1 hour ago, bamnutsak said:

Now do Nazi and confederate flags.

They already have been banned:

 

NY Gov. Kathy Hochul bans the Confederate flag, other hate symbols on public property

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul signed legislation Tuesday barring the display of symbols of hate on all public property and equipment after a fire truck decorated with a Confederate flag sparked outrage last year.

https://www.nysenate.gov/newsroom/in-the-news/2021/anna-m-kaplan/ny-gov-kathy-hochul-bans-confederate-flag-other-hate

 

[impulse]

6 hours ago, Evil Penevil said:

The text of the NY state law that is being amended to include terrorist flags:  https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/PEN/240.31   The national flag of Palestine would NOT be forbidden under the statute, only the flags of terror groups like Hamas or Hezbollah displayed with the intent to intimidate others.  There have been cases where Palestinian supporters have waved terror-group flags in the faces of Jews or in front of synagogues.

 

If the US Gub'ment declares someone a terror organization, I'm not allowed to object to that in public without risking imprisonment?  If Hochul bans the Confederate flag, I can't protest that ban without fear of imprisonment?  That's a legitimate protest against the gub'ment, and that's absolutely allowed by the First Amendment.

 

Slippery slope, especially in lefty areas where they can easily shop the venue and empanel a jury of lefties.  Who feel threatened by someone wearing the wrong hat or T-shirt.

 

[Bkk Brian]

1 hour ago, impulse said:

 

If the US Gub'ment declares someone a terror organization, I'm not allowed to object to that in public without risking imprisonment?  If Hochul bans the Confederate flag, I can't protest that ban without fear of imprisonment?  That's a legitimate protest against the gub'ment, and that's absolutely allowed by the First Amendment.

 

Slippery slope, especially in lefty areas where they can easily shop the venue and empanel a jury of lefties.  Who feel threatened by someone wearing the wrong hat or T-shirt.

 

You're being misleading, they are carrying Terrorist flags from Hamas and its affiliates. They are inciting violence by doing so. That is not covered by first amendment. Hamas wants to wipe out Israel and Jews. 

[JonnyF]

1 hour ago, impulse said:

Slippery slope, especially in lefty areas where they can easily shop the venue and empanel a jury of lefties.  Who feel threatened by someone wearing the wrong hat or T-shirt.

 

 

Exactly.

 

If you get a lefty area they'll end up classifying the national flag as a symbol of hate and Hamas propaganda as support of freedom fighters.

 

That's where we've ended up in the UK. Best Americans stay well clear...

[impulse]

1 hour ago, Bkk Brian said:

You're being misleading, they are carrying Terrorist flags from Hamas and its affiliates. They are inciting violence by doing so. That is not covered by first amendment. Hamas wants to wipe out Israel and Jews. 

 

I guess you haven't seen the zillions of YouTubes of lefty snowflakes verbally assaulting people who are just wearing a MAGA hat because they claim they feel threatened.  Or take it to the next level, the guys wearing FJB shirts.  Lots of places have banned those.  It's not my fault if you feel threatened.  I have the right to express myself as long as I do it peacefully. 

 

If they're vandalizing, trespassing, or actually threatening anyone, lock them up.  Just carrying a flag?  Protected speech.

 

 

[Bkk Brian]

18 minutes ago, impulse said:

 

I guess you haven't seen the zillions of YouTubes of lefty snowflakes verbally assaulting people who are just wearing a MAGA hat because they claim they feel threatened.  Or take it to the next level, the guys wearing FJB shirts.  Lots of places have banned those.  It's not my fault if you feel threatened.  I have the right to express myself as long as I do it peacefully. 

 

If they're vandalizing, trespassing, or actually threatening anyone, lock them up.  Just carrying a flag?  Protected speech.

 

 

I really couldn't care less about the zillions of Youtube videos you are obviously glued to, I do care about a designated terrorist group and their violence being promoted illegally.

[impulse]

1 hour ago, JonnyF said:

If you get a lefty area they'll end up classifying the national flag as a symbol of hate and Hamas propaganda as support of freedom fighters.

 

People forget that this issue is bigger than Hamas.  The law says any flag of any declared terror organization. 

 

What if the Righties in Congress voted to declare Greenpeace a terror organization because of their acts of violence at sea?  Would that mean carrying a Greenpeace flag is punishable by a prison sentence if a right winger claimed he felt threatened?

 

People forget that the laws being used against others can turn around and bite them in the ass if the winds of politics change.  If me carrying a Confederate, a Hamas, or even a Nazi flag incites John to violence, John's the one they need to arrest.  Because just wearing a MAGA hat is enough to incite a lot of lefties to violence.

 

[impulse]

3 minutes ago, Bkk Brian said:

I really couldn't care less about the zillions of Youtube videos you are obviously glued to, I do care about a designated terrorist group and their violence being promoted illegally.

 

No.  You have one dog in that fight, and you don't care what rights they have to trample to defeat that one dog. 

 

But those same laws can be used against your side next time.  Then you'll sing a different tune.

 

[Bkk Brian]

1 minute ago, impulse said:

 

No.  You have one dog in that fight, and you don't care what rights they have to trample to defeat that one dog. 

 

But those same laws can be used against your side next time.  Then you'll sing a different tune.

 

Read the topic, its about one dog, terrorist flags from designated terrorist groups at anti Israel protests

[impulse]

6 minutes ago, Bkk Brian said:

Read the topic, its about one dog, terrorist flags from designated terrorist groups at anti Israel protests

 

No.  It's bigger than Hamas/Israel.  But you're so fixed on that you can't see the unintended implications for the next time.

 

[hotsun]

Im more in favor of allowing the flags, seeing who the people are and then deporting them

[JonnyF]

2 minutes ago, impulse said:

 

People forget that this issue is bigger than Hamas.  The law says any flag of any declared terror organization. 

 

What if the Righties in Congress voted to declare Greenpeace a terror organization because of their acts of violence at sea?  Would that mean carrying a Greenpeace flag is punishable by a prison sentence if a right winger claimed he felt threatened?

 

People forget that the laws being used against others can turn around and bite them in the ass if the winds of politics change.  If me carrying a Confederate, a Hamas, or even a Nazi flag incites John to violence, John's the one they need to arrest.  Because just wearing a MAGA hat is enough to incite a lot of lefties to violence.

 

 

Yes, that's why hate speech laws are so dangerous.

 

Because what constitutes "hate"? Who decides that?

 

Currently the lefties are happy because if I refuse to call a man in a dress a woman, or even worse if I poke fun of that man with a humourous tweet on X, they can call it a hate incident. Send the police to my house to correct my wrongthink. Possibly arrest and jail me.  

 

But maybe the people who decide what is hateful change? Maybe it becomes hateful to label someone who supports Trump a Fascist/Nazi. Then all the lefties are the victim of the same laws they created.

 

It's very dangerous and not a road the US should be following the UK down.  

[impulse]

3 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

 

Yes, that's why hate speech laws are so dangerous.

 

Because what constitutes "hate"? Who decides that?

 

Currently the lefties are happy because if I refuse to call a man in a dress a woman, or even worse if I poke fun of that man with a humourous tweet on X, they can call it a hate incident. Send the police to my house to correct my wrongthink. Possibly arrest and jail me.  

 

But maybe the people who decide what is hateful change? Maybe it becomes hateful to label someone who supports Trump a Fascist/Nazi. Then all the lefties are the victim of the same laws they created.

 

It's very dangerous and not a road the US should be following the UK down.  

 

That's the big picture.  But so many are so fixed on that kerfuffle over Israel (or Ukraine, or...or...) that they're willing to see our rights eroded away under the guise of security.

 

[Bkk Brian]

7 minutes ago, impulse said:

 

No.  It's bigger than Hamas/Israel.  But you're so fixed on that you can't see the unintended implications for the next time.

 

No it's not....lol

[Chomper Higgot]

9 hours ago, Evil Penevil said:

 

The crime is not just holding a flag. As the OP explains, the intent to "harass, threaten, or intimidate" is what makes it criminal. My bold text.

 

 

The text of the NY state law that is being amended to include terrorist flags:  https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/PEN/240.31   The national flag of Palestine would NOT be forbidden under the statute, only the flags of terror groups like Hamas or Hezbollah displayed with the intent to intimidate others.  There have been cases where Palestinian supporters have waved terror-group flags in the faces of Jews or in front of synagogues.

 

They already have been banned:

 

NY Gov. Kathy Hochul bans the Confederate flag, other hate symbols on public property

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul signed legislation Tuesday barring the display of symbols of hate on all public property and equipment after a fire truck decorated with a Confederate flag sparked outrage last year.

https://www.nysenate.gov/newsroom/in-the-news/2021/anna-m-kaplan/ny-gov-kathy-hochul-bans-confederate-flag-other-hate

 

A distinction needs to be made on the term ‘on Public Property’, it’s referring to ‘on State Owned Property and Equipment’

The ‘ban’ does not impact the rights of individuals to display these symbols or wave these flags while in public places.

 

To do so would be an infringement of the 1st Amendment.

 

[Bkk Brian]

37 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

A distinction needs to be made on the term ‘on Public Property’, it’s referring to ‘on State Owned Property and Equipment’

The ‘ban’ does not impact the rights of individuals to display these symbols or wave these flags while in public places.

 

To do so would be an infringement of the 1st Amendment.

 

Not if they are inciting violence it wouldn't. What other reason would a terrorist supporter holding a Hamas flag at an anti Israel protest be doing if it was not about inciting violence?

[connda]

It's unconstitutional and abridges the 1st amendment.  It will never survive a SCOTUS challenge.  Nor should it.

[Social Media]

Inflammatory, off topic and unsubstaniated claims against the US have been removed @connda

[mrwebb8825]

12 hours ago, impulse said:

 

If the US Gub'ment declares someone a terror organization, I'm not allowed to object to that in public without risking imprisonment?  If Hochul bans the Confederate flag, I can't protest that ban without fear of imprisonment?  That's a legitimate protest against the gub'ment, and that's absolutely allowed by the First Amendment.

 

Slippery slope, especially in lefty areas where they can easily shop the venue and empanel a jury of lefties.  Who feel threatened by someone wearing the wrong hat or T-shirt.

 

This ^^ is EXACTLY what is meant by "Returning To Common Sense" vs nonsensical "Sky Is Falling" skewed abstract interpretations of "What It MAY Have Meant" by Lefty/Activist/Nutjob lawyers and judges.

 

Of Course you may protest TO the government AT a government facility. You may NOT hold that same protest for the purpose of causing fear and intimidation.

You people need to get a F##KING grip.