The Department of Justice (DOJ) announced Monday it has filed a lawsuit against individuals accused of carrying out a violent protest that disrupted religious services at a New Jersey synagogue in 2024.

Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon said the case will be pursued under the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act.

The same statute was previously used by the Biden-Harris administration against pro-life activists, but this time it will be applied to defendants accused of targeting a Jewish house of worship.

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“The practice of turning a blind eye to these attacks on houses of worship throughout the United States stops now,” Dhillon said during a press conference.

“Today, we announced the filing of a civil complaint against individuals and organizations who organized and carried out a violent protest that interfered with a religious event and obstructed worshippers at congregation Ohr Torah Synagogue in West Orange, New Jersey, last year.”

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Dhillon said the lawsuit seeks to defend the rights of worshippers to freely practice their faith without intimidation.

According to the DOJ’s account, the incident took place in November 2024.

Roughly 50 protesters allegedly assembled without a permit, beginning near the home of a Jewish resident before moving toward the Ohr Torah Synagogue.

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The complaint states that some demonstrators carried blue Vuvuzelas, horns powerful enough to cause hearing damage, and used them while shouting at Jewish residents.

The protest group then entered synagogue property, where they blew the horns and shouted to disrupt a memorial service and a Torah sermon.

The DOJ identified defendants including Altaf Sharif and a Jane Doe, who allegedly blew the horns within inches of a worshipper’s ears.

The complaint further alleges that Sharif then charged at the worshipper.

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When another individual intervened with pepper spray, a third defendant, Eric Kamens, reportedly pointed at the worshipper and shouted, “the Jew is here,” before Sharif placed the worshipper in a chokehold that lasted more than 20 seconds.

Authorities said that even after police ordered the group to leave synagogue grounds, protesters continued to shout threats at members of the congregation.

The threats allegedly included statements such as, “You can’t hide,” and “You’re next.”

“These actions constitute interference with protected religious worship in the United States and obstruction of access to the synagogue, which is illegal under the FACE Act,” Dhillon said.

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The DOJ complaint seeks to prohibit the named defendants from disrupting worship or blocking access to synagogues across

New Jersey. “Our complaint seeks to join the defendants from interfering with worship at synagogues or obstructing worshippers from synagogues throughout New Jersey, the fullest reach of the United States District Court, in which we’re filing this complaint,” Dhillon added.

The case marks one of the first times the FACE Act has been used by the DOJ in response to protests targeting a Jewish synagogue.

The department said it intends to ensure that federal law protects access to houses of worship regardless of faith tradition.