Includes removal or threat of removal of religious clothing as aggravated harassment in the second degree

This bill amends New York's harassment laws to classify the removal or threat of removing religious clothing as a crime of aggravated harassment in the second degree. It directly affects individuals who may have their religious garments taken or threatened to be taken away by someone intending to harass, annoy, threaten, or alarm them. The law specifies that this act is criminal when motivated by the perpetrator's beliefs or perceptions about the victim's race, religion, gender, or other protected characteristics, regardless of whether those beliefs are accurate. By adding this specific behavior to the list of prohibited physical contacts, the legislation expands the scope of what constitutes criminal harassment in public spaces.