Mamdani Vetoes Protest ‘Buffer Zone’ Bill Passed by City Council

The vetoed bill would have applied to protests at schools; he signed a similar bill that applies to houses of worship only.

New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani speaks during a news conference at Gracie Mansion in New York on March 9, 2026. Angelina Katsanis/AP Photo

Mayor Zohran Mamdani vetoed a controversial bill passed by the City Council that would let the New York Police Department establish “buffer zones” around educational institutions during protests.

In a statement on April 24, Mamdani said the measure could limit “New Yorkers’ fundamental right to protest.” He said the bill’s definition of educational institutions was overly broad and that it would apply to universities, museums, and teaching hospitals.