Washington, D.C., 30 September 2025 — The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has filed a civil lawsuit against two activist groups and six individuals accused of intimidating Jewish worshippers and disrupting services at Congregation Ohr Torah in West Orange, New Jersey, in November 2024.
Allegations of Intimidation and Disruption
According to the complaint, protesters targeted a synagogue event that had been relocated from the home of Dr. Moshe Glick, after his address was published online alongside protest flyers. The DOJ alleges that demonstrators used threats and physical obstruction to prevent congregants from participating in lawful religious services. Glick himself later faced local assault charges following a clash with protesters outside the synagogue.
Legal Basis: The FACE Act
The lawsuit invokes 18 U.S.C. § 248(a)(2), known as the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act, which prohibits the use of force, threats, or obstruction to interfere with individuals exercising their right to worship. While the FACE Act was originally enacted in 1994 to protect access to abortion clinics, it also extends to houses of worship.
The DOJ argues that the defendants — including the New Jersey chapters of the Party for Socialism and Liberation and American Muslims for Palestine — are “likely to continue” violating the statute unless restrained by court order.
Remedies Sought
The government is seeking injunctive relief, civil penalties, and compensatory damages. If granted, the injunction would bar the defendants from further harassment or obstruction of worshippers at synagogues across New Jersey.
Broader Implications
This marks one of the first known uses of the FACE Act to protect a place of worship, expanding its application beyond reproductive health facilities. DOJ officials framed the case as part of a broader effort to combat rising antisemitism and safeguard religious freedom.
Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon stated: “Violence and intimidation directed at synagogues and other houses of worship are not only attacks on individuals, they are attacks on an entire faith community.”
The case highlights the growing tension between pro-Palestinian activism and religious freedom protections, raising questions about how federal civil rights law will be applied in politically charged protest contexts.
Sources: DOJ Press Release, JURIST, MSN/UPI.
Excerpts from jurist.org article by Paige Miller | U. Arizona College of Law, US
