Against the backdrop of a sharp rise in antisemitism in the United States since the October 7 Hamas massacre, nearly 200 mayors, deputy mayors and community leaders from across the U.S. and Canada gathered at the annual North American Mayors Summit on Antisemitism. The summit, held in New Orleans, was organized by the Combat Antisemitism Movement (CAM).
Over three days last week, participants discussed modern manifestations of antisemitism and shared best practices. They developed innovative urban strategies and strengthened inter-city cooperation to ensure a safer future for Jewish communities and all residents.
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The mayors pose on the field of the Superdome, home of the New Orleans Saints
(Photo: Paul Morse Photography)
Many of the mayors experienced antisemitism firsthand. On the summit’s opening evening, anti‑Israel protesters disrupted their procession, raised a tri-finger salute toward them and accused them of complicity in the killing of infants. Chants such as “From the river to the sea” and “Globalize the Intifada” echoed throughout.
New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell, the event’s host, opened the summit with a firm declaration: “When we stand against antisemitism, we stand against all hatred. This isn’t about one group. It’s about everyone.
Key issues addressed
Panels and workshops tackled issues such as: when a protest crosses the line into intimidation and violence; managing community tensions in cities; protecting Jewish students on campuses; fighting online disinformation; employing local legal tools against antisemitism; and preventing violent radicalization.
CAM CEO Sasha Roytman addressed the mayors. “This summit is a call for leadership, courage and partnership. We are here to make sure history does not repeat itself,” he said. Lisa Katz, CAM’s head of Governance, added: “Antisemitism never stays confined to one group. Once unleashed, it harms everyone.” Roytman said that much of the organized antisemitic campaign in the U.S. is backed by significant funds coming from countries like Qatar, as well as from Russia and China.
Seattle’s Mayor Bruce Harrell described routine antisemitic harassment, including children in schools being verbally attacked with shouted slurs. Several mayors recounted pressure from local constituencies to pass anti‑Israel resolutions, and admitted they often struggle to resist. Many said they are unsure how to distinguish legitimate criticism of Israel from unlawful hate speech.
In an emotional ceremony, the summit awarded the “Courageous Mayor” prize to two city leaders: Nancy Rotering of Highland Park, Illinois, where four Jews were murdered in a 2022 Independence Day attack, and Alexis Desulma of North Miami, Florida, for steadfast leadership under anti‑Israel pressure. “The fight against antisemitism requires more than declarations,” Desulma said. “It requires education — especially from us, the mayors, who stand in the front line every day.”
Jewish residents Josh and Julia Zuckerman of New Orleans delivered personal testimony about their home being vandalized in antisemitic attacks last year: “What happened to us can happen to anyone, in any city, any home. Believe your Jewish communities when they say something is wrong. Take them seriously when they ask for protection. Be brave. Your leadership matters, your voice matters, and your choices — who you condemn, what you fund, what you prioritize — can decide whether a family feels safe or not.”
The conference heard troubling reports of anti-Jewish incidents with no follow-up. For example, a large synagogue in Toronto was vandalized at least 10 times since October 7, 2023. Toronto’s mayor, Olivia Chow, has never attended community solidarity events; though the community responded by turning the broken window glass into mezuzahs distributed as memorials, many said they feel abandoned. The night before the most recent attack, Chow publicly accused Israel of genocide.
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Rabbi Yehuda Kaploun, center, the new US antisemitism czar
(Photo: Paul Morse Photography)
Notably, dozens of African-American mayors attended the summit — a significant gesture given the frayed relations between Black and Jewish communities in recent years under pressure from the Black Lives Matter movement. Many said it was time for solidarity: as Jews stood with Black Americans in past generations, now Black leaders stand with Jews in their hour of need. Several mayors were visibly emotional when recounting stories of antisemitic attacks and the toxic effect they have on their cities. Many said they came to the summit to gain tools to fight antisemitism locally.
There was consensus throughout that mayors are the last line of defense for Jewish communities in North America. They agreed they must be brave and stand up for their Jewish residents. Touching moments came when mayors, from small towns to major metropolises, exchanged practical advice — from passing strict hate‑crime laws to proactively engaging with Jewish communities before crises erupt, to making clear that Jewish residents are valued and protected members of the city.
Providence Mayor Brett Smiley, who is CAM advisory board chairman, told attendees that “antisemitic voices exist on the fringes of both sides of the political map. Those fringes may be small — but their volume is loud, especially on the internet. Your Jewish communities need you now.”
Meanwhile, the appointment of President Donald Trump's nominee for the position of special envoy to combat antisemitism, Rabbi Yehuda Kaploun was confirmed by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on the day of the conference. "The fight against antisemitism is a moral duty for us all. Antisemitism is anti‑Americanism. Racism is anti‑Americanism. I — the President, the Secretary of State, and the whole administration — will work tirelessly to restore dignity to all humanity. I will be your greatest partner,” he pledged to the conference.
In the summit’s closing address at New Orleans’ Caesars Superdome, outgoing New York Mayor Eric Adams announced two executive orders and several new directives — issued just before he passes the office to his anti‑Israeli successor, Zohran Mamdani. The directives impose a total ban on city-level boycotts or divestments from Israel (BDS), and expand protections for religious freedom and security at synagogues and other houses of worship.
Addressing the crowd, Adams said: “I tell my Jewish brothers and sisters — your legacy this generation is to say, ‘We no longer run.’ We stand and fight. We will not live in fear hoping it will disappear.” He added: “We must stop antisemitism because we are all connected — and all of us are involved together.”
The summit — held for the ninth time and hosted this year for the first time in New Orleans — was organized in cooperation with the City of New Orleans, the African American Mayors Association (AAMA), the National League of Cities, the Jewish Federation of New Orleans, and other civic bodies. The repeated message from stage and crowd was clear: the fight against antisemitism is not a “Jewish issue” — it is a fight for the core values of all American and Canadian society.