In Powerful Gesture of Unity, Dozens of US Cities Commemorate October 7th Anniversary With Mayoral Proclamations

In a powerful nationwide display of unity and moral courage, dozens of mayors across the United States issued proclamations this week commemorating the second anniversary of the October 7th massacre and denouncing the rising wave of antisemitism gripping communities across the country.

This joint initiative, organized by the Combat Antisemitism Movement (CAM), reflects a growing movement of local leaders who recognize that the fight against antisemitism and hate begins in their own cities.

Participating municipalities included: Coral Springs (Florida), Calabasas (California), Palm Bay (Florida), Palm Beach Gardens (Florida), Virginia Beach (Virginia), La Vergne (Texas), Fort Lauderdale (Florida), Cooper City (Florida), Beverly Hills (California), North Miami (Florida), Las Vegas (New Mexico), Sunny Isles Beach (Florida), Pembroke Pines (Florida), Lakeville (Minnesota), Waxahachie (Texas), Jersey City (New Jersey), Westchester County (New York), Sandy Springs (Georgia), Aventura (Florida), Miami Beach (Florida), Bal Harbour (Florida), and Elyria (Ohio).

Each proclamation was distinct, but all shared a unified message: remembrance, solidarity, and action.

In Virginia Beach, Mayor Bobby Dyer declared, “I call upon all citizens to join us in remembering the lives taken on October 7th, call for the immediate return of all hostages still held by Hamas, stand in solidarity with our Jewish neighbors, and unconditionally condemn antisemitism in all its contemporary forms, along with every expression of hatred and bigotry. We reaffirm our city’s unwavering commitment to safeguard the safety, dignity, and equal rights of every resident.”

Speaking at an October 7th memorial candlelight vigil in North Castle, New York, on Tuesday, Combat Antisemitism Movement (CAM) Chief Government Affairs Officer Lisa Katz — who leads CAM’s mayoral initiatives — said, “We are not here to mark just another date on the calendar. We are here to remember one of the darkest days in Jewish history — and in human history.”

“October 7 was not just an attack on Israel,” she added. “It was an attack on every Jew, everywhere and on the very idea of human dignity, democracy, and freedom.”

“Remembrance without action is hollow,” Katz noted. “It means teaching the truth about October 7, standing up when we hear antisemitism whether whispered or shouted and urging our leaders to act. Never Again is not a slogan. It’s a sacred responsibility.”

This shared commitment to municipal responsibility and leadership will carry forward this December 2–4, when hundreds of municipal leaders from across North America will gather in New Orleans, Louisiana, for the 2025 North American Mayors Summit Against Antisemitism, the largest forum of its kind dedicated to equipping mayors with the tools, strategies, and partnerships to combat antisemitism at the local level.

For more information on CAM’s municipal initiatives and resources for cities, please visit: combatantisemitism.org/municipal-action-center