US: Proposal to restrict protests shields 'unlawful' sales of Palestinian land, rights groups say

New York Governor Kathy Hochul has proposed a ban on protesting within 25 feet of religious institutions, citing a pro-Palestine protest as the primary motivator. The protest in question was against a real estate expo promoting the sale of Palestinian land. Rights groups like the Palestinian Assembly for Liberation-Awda (PAL-Awda) have condemned the proposal as a violation of First Amendment rights. They argue the ban is an attempt to shield real estate companies and settler agencies that use religious institutions to conduct unlawful sales and enable the displacement of Palestinians.