California bill would criminalize activism near churches
Do you think it should be a crime to protest a church?
How about just to protest near a church?
AB2664 would do this and more, making it criminal to even talk to a religious practitioner on their way to worship about a cause… let alone demonstrate with signs or distribute leaflets near the building.
AB2664 bundles these restrictions with new criminal penalties for any "act of violence" performed within 100 feet of a religious building's entrance—a redundant measure, as a person who commits religiously motivated violence can already be charged under any number of state and local laws, including anti-hate laws.
The bill is ostensibly aimed at anti-religious hate, but would also suppress:
LGBTQ+ rights protestors outside hate churches
Atheists or secular activists protesting churches that violate separation of religion and government
Protests of the Gaza war near synagogues and temples
Former cult members protesting their abusers
Labor and social justice protestors calling out political megachurches
Activists distributing pamphlets about abuse allegations involving clergy or institutions
Animal rights or environmental protestors confronting religious violators
Moreover, the bill’s vague language leaves it up to interpretation whether it would ban protected speech on public sidewalks that just happen to be near a religious institution.
In other words, AB2664 creates a loophole that could be used to suppress any political speech that happens to be near a church.
In the densest parts of California cities, where multiple places of worship can be found on the same city block, is that whole block now illegal to protest on? When the next big protest happens against Trump, ICE, or white supremacy, will demonstrators face new criminal penalties because a church is nearby?
The bill doesn’t answer these questions, and that’s exactly why the State Legislature should vote no on AB2664.
AB2664 would do little to prevent violence, and a lot to privilege religion above free speech.
As of 6/30/26, AB2664 has passed the House and is assigned to Senate Appropriations Committee:
WHAT YOU CAN DO
Contact your own State Senator and members of Senate Appropriations Committee with your opposition:
Sabrina Cervantes — (916) 651-4031 — senator.cervantes@senate.ca.gov
Kelly Seyarto — (916) 651-4032 — senator.seyarto@senate.ca.gov
Christopher Cabaldon — (916) 651-4003 — senator.cabaldon@senate.ca.gov
Megan Dahle — (916) 651-4001 — senator.dahle@senate.ca.gov
Tim Grayson — (916) 651-4009 — senator.grayson@senate.ca.gov
Laura Richardson — (916) 651-4035 — senator.richardson@senate.ca.gov
Aisha Wahab — (916) 651-4010 — senator.wahab@senate.ca.gov
Sample message:
I'm [NAME] in [DISTRICT OR CITY] contacting you to urge a no vote on AB 2664.
While the bill is presented as a response to anti-religious hate, it would also restrict peaceful political speech near places of worship, including conversations, leafleting, and demonstrations on public sidewalks. Religiously motivated violence is already illegal under existing criminal and hate crime laws, making these new speech restrictions unnecessary.
AB 2664 could affect LGBTQ+ rights advocates, secular activists, labor organizers, war protestors, and victims of clergy abuse or cults calling out their abusers. Its vague language raises serious concerns that public spaces near churches, synagogues, and other religious institutions could effectively become protest-free zones.
This bill would do little to prevent violence and a great deal to undermine free speech rights. Please vote no on AB 2664. Thank you for your time.
