May 20, 2026 — “Today the Speaker chose not to call the override vote on Intro 175-B — and that is not an accident,” said Zara Nasir, Executive Director of The People’s Plan NYC, on behalf of the Safety Not Censorship Coalition. “The Speaker and Council Member Dinowitz couldn’t call this vote because thousands of New Yorkers made sure they didn’t have the votes to win it today. That’s what organizing looks like.”

“Let us be clear: this is not over. Instead of listening to school communities and learning lessons from this failed veto override process, it appears the Speaker is now moving to introduce new legislation that is no less dangerous. The premise of the Speaker’s new bill would still hand the NYPD discretion to suppress dissent at a time when New Yorkers are defending their schools against facism and ongoing ICE raids, and fighting for budget justice and a better educational system. To the Council members considering bending to the Speaker’s pressure: your communities are watching, your constituents are organized, and we have your back as you decide to do the right thing and reject any bill that could increase police presence and discretion outside of schools. The Mayor vetoed 175-B for good reason and the Speaker’s new proposal is still a threat to our first amendment rights. We’ll be organizing at city hall and locally until this proposal is dead for good.”

 

“These ‘buffer zone’ bills have never been about keeping New Yorkers safe, but about silencing our voices. That they do so under the auspices of combating antisemitism doesn’t just add insult to injury; it actively endangers Jews – on top of the dangerous impact these bills have on New Yorkers of color who are already over-policed, workers and their ability to organize, and the right of everyone to protest in our city,” said Audrey Sasson, Executive Director of Jews For Racial & Economic Justice (JFREJ). “We’re proud that our organizing successfully blocked the Speaker’s effort to force 175B through, and we’re committed to making sure no future versions of this legislation become law.”

“At a time of increasing repression of protests and free speech, it is alarming that Speaker Menin chose to push 175b that would put the rights of workers, students, and activists at risk,” said Fahd Ahmed, Executive Director, DRUM – Desis Rising Up & Moving. “New Yorkers organized to ensure their elected council members rejected such divisive Trumpian legislation.”

 

“For generations, peaceful protest has been a central pillar of the fight for civil rights in schools, with Black and Brown students and their families at the forefront. Increasing police presence around schools will only make students and schools less safe. It will silence those facing injustice, and punish them for speaking truth to power.  Thank you to members of the City Council who stood their ground and listened to their constituents, students, families and advocates, when they shared the immense harm this bill would have caused. We call on them and all the Council to oppose any future bill that threatens free speech and student safety.” – Zakiyah Shaakir-Ansari, co-Executive Director, Alliance for Quality Education

 

BACKGROUND

Intro 175-B requires the NYPD to develop plans and create anti-protest parameters near schools and broadly defined educational facilities — including colleges, hospitals, libraries, and any building where training occurs. Mayor Mamdani vetoed the bill. The Safety Not Censorship Coalition — representing dozens of organizations and thousands of New Yorkers — has opposed the bill throughout the legislative process and will continue to do so until the veto is permanently sustained and any threat to our first amendment rights in New York City is defeated.

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