Page 3 - aruba-today-20201127

A3
U.S. NEWS Friday 27 November 2020
High court blocks N.Y. virus limits on houses of worship

By JESSICA GRESKO previously designated red
WASHINGTON (AP) — With and orange zones. In those
coronavirus cases surging red and orange zones, the
again nationwide, the Su- state had capped atten-
preme Court barred New dance at houses of wor-
York from enforcing certain ship at 10 and 25 people,
limits on attendance at respectively. But the those
churches and synagogues particular areas are now
in areas designated as designated as yellow zones
hard hit by the virus. with less restrictive rules nei-
The justices split 5-4 late ther group challenged.
Wednesday night, with The justices acted on an
new Justice Amy Coney emergency basis, tempo-
Barrett in the majority. It rarily barring New York from
was the conservative's first enforcing the restrictions
publicly discernible vote as against the groups while
a justice. The court's three their lawsuits continue. In
liberal justices and Chief an unsigned opinion the
Justice John Roberts dis- court said the restrictions
sented. "single out houses of wor-
The move was a shift for ship for especially harsh
the court. Earlier this year, treatment."
when Barrett's liberal pre- "Members of this Court are
decessor, Justice Ruth not public health experts,
Bader Ginsburg, was still on and we should respect
the court, the justices di- In this provided by the State of New York, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo holds up a new Thanks- the judgment of those with
vided 5-4 to leave in place giving-themed face mask during his daily coronavirus briefing at the Wyandanch-Wheatley special expertise and re-
pandemic-related capac- Heights Ambulance Corp. Headquarters in Wyandanch, N.Y. sponsibility in this area. But
ity restrictions affecting Associated Press even in a pandemic, the
churches in California and Constitution cannot be put
Nevada. groups that sued to chal- any practical impact" giv- with reporters. "You have a away and forgotten. The
The court's action Wednes- lenge the restrictions are no en that the restrictions have different court. And I think restrictions at issue here, by
day could push New York longer subject to them. already been removed. that was the statement effectively barring many
to reevaluate its restrictions New York Gov. Andrew "Why rule on a case that is that the court was making." from attending religious
on houses of worship in ar- Cuomo, a Democrat, said moot and come up with a The Diocese of Brook- services, strike at the very
eas designated virus hot Thursday the ruling was different decision than you lyn and Agudath Israel of heart of the First Amend-
spots. But the impact is also "more illustrative of the Su- did several months ago on America have churches ment's guarantee of reli-
muted because the Cath- preme Court than anything the same issue?" Cuomo and synagogues in areas gious liberty," the opinion
olic and Orthodox Jewish else" and "irrelevant from asked in a conference call of Brooklyn and Queens said.q

Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade takes flight in virus times

NEW YORK (AP) — The bal- attached to vehicles that Sofia Carson, and a slew a rare festivity in a city that some of the New York City
loons were in the sky and kept them moving and of Broadway shows were has seen most of its major parades that hadn't been
the marching bands took decreased the number of represented in taped per- events cancelled over the able to happen — the St.
to the streets for the an- people needed. formances from their casts. last year because of the vi- Patrick's Day Parade, the
nual Macy's Thanksgiving A number of entertainers Even with the pandemic rus. The parade organizers Mermaid Parade, the Puer-
Day Parade on Thursday, performed, including Pen- protocols, the fact that the recognized that reality, in- to Rican Day Parade and
but coronavirus restrictions tatonix, Keke Palmer and parade took place made it cluding representatives of NYC Pride March.q
meant it was without the
throngs of people usually
scrambling for a view.
Instead of its typical path
through Manhattan, this
year's parade was kept to
the area in front of Macy's
flagship store and aimed
at a television audience in-
stead of live crowds.
There were some familiar
balloon faces, of course,
including Snoopy, Ronald
McDonald, and Sponge-
Bob SquarePants.
But the bigger balloons
were missing the numer-
ous handlers who would The Boss Baby balloon is deflated as it ends its appearance dur-
normally be walking un- ing the modified Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York,
derneath and holding the Thursday, Nov. 26, 2020.
ropes. This year, they were Associated Press