Today, co-counsel Christina John, a staff attorney with the legal team at the Council on American-Islamic Relations New York, published an Op Ed in City Limits challenging the NYPD’s practice of forced removal of religious head coverings during protests. Ms. John writes: “Forcing someone to remove a hijab—a headscarf that covers the hair, ears, neck, and parts of the chest—in public, particularly in the presence of men who are not immediate family, is a profound violation of their deeply held religious beliefs. This act not only assaults the wearer’s faith and dignity but also infringes upon their constitutional rights, including free speech, religious freedom, and bodily integrity. Both Ms. Howlader and Ms. Azam, who wear the hijab as a central part of their faith, were subjected to this violation in a manner no New Yorker should ever endure.” The full editorial can be read here. A link to ECBAWM’s lawsuit challenging this practice can be found here.