Rockland County Passes Funeral Privacy Law
NEW CITY, NY (WCBS 880) - The Rockland County board of legislators has passed a funeral privacy law that will prohibit demonstration activities within 750 feet of all funerals at all locations, not just military funerals.
Groups such as the Westboro Baptist Church have frequently protested at the funerals of soldiers killed in battle.
WCBS 880's Catherine Cioffi On The Story
Podcast
"People have rights, but their rights stop at a point where they intrude or trample upon other peoples' rights," says legislator Ed Day. "The right to bury a loved one, I think, really should be sacrosanct."
Day says this is the final act of respect and will provide solace to families as they grieve.
"This is something that just makes a lot of sense. It's content-neutral. This will absolutely withstand any kind of challenge and will get the job done and service to all people," Day tells WCBS 880 reporter Catherine Cioffi. "The law is consistent with what the Supreme Court said should be done, that municipalities have rights to establish reasonable rules."
The bill still has to be signed by county executive Scott Vanderhoef, but it did receive the unanimous approval from the legislature.
What do you think of the funeral privacy law? Sound off below in our comments section...
