U.S. District Judge Katharine Hayden in New Jersey dismissed the Justice Department’s lawsuit against several pro‑Palestinian organizations and individual protesters. The case, filed in 2025, attempted to apply the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act—originally designed to protect access to reproductive‑health centers and houses of worship—to a November 2024 protest at a synagogue in New Jersey.
Why the suit was tossed
Judge Hayden ruled that the government’s complaint failed to adequately allege violations of the FACE statute. She dismissed the claims without prejudice, giving the Justice Department a 30‑day window to file an amended complaint if it wishes.
Background on the FACE Act
The FACE Act, enacted in 1994, makes it a federal crime to use force or physical obstruction to interfere with individuals at reproductive‑health facilities or places of worship. Historically, the law has been used to prosecute those who block access to abortion clinics. This was the first instance, according to Harmeet Dhillon, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, where the statute was invoked to allege interference with religious worship.
Details of the protest
In September 2025, the Justice Department sued pro‑Palestinian activists it said intimidated attendees during a November 2024 event at a New Jersey synagogue. The event combined a spiritual service with a real‑estate fair promoting property sales in Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank. The lawsuit alleged that protesters escalated the situation, physically assaulting worshippers and using vuvuzelas—plastic trumpets popular with soccer fans—to disrupt the service.
Trump administration’s stance
Under President Trump, the Justice Department has limited the use of the FACE Act in abortion‑related cases, arguing that prior prosecutions were overly politicized. Dhillon clarified that those restrictions do not extend to cases involving houses of worship. President Trump also took a hard line on pro‑Palestinian activism, issuing pardons for individuals convicted under the FACE Act, attempting to deport foreign protesters, threatening funding freezes for universities where protests occurred, expanding immigration screening, and imposing sanctions on critics of Israel.
Opposing viewpoints
The administration characterizes the protesters as antisemitic and supportive of extremist elements. The demonstrators, however, maintain that their criticism of Israel’s actions in Gaza and the occupation of Palestinian territories does not constitute antisemitism, and that advocating for Palestinian rights should not be conflated with extremist support.
Implications
The dismissal highlights the challenges of applying a law crafted for clinic and worship‑site protection to politically charged protests. It also underscores the Trump administration’s broader effort to curb what it views as hostile activism while preserving the original intent of the FACE Act.
Next steps
With the case dismissed, the Justice Department may choose to refile a revised complaint within the 30‑day period. Observers will be watching to see whether the administration pursues a new legal strategy or shifts focus to other tools for addressing campus and community protests.
Original reporting: Appleton, WI News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
