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Nearly 200 city leaders and community stakeholders from across the United States and Canada convened in New Orleans, Louisiana, this week for the 2025 North American Mayors Summit Against Antisemitism, organized by the Combat Antisemitism Movement (CAM).
The annual forum offers a collaborative venue for mayors to learn about antisemitism in all its modern-day forms, share best practices, develop practical and innovative cities-oriented strategies and policies, and bolster cooperation between municipalities to drive real and impactful change for their residents.
Keynote speakers included: New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell; New York City Mayor Eric Adams; U.S. Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Antisemitism Nominee Yehuda Kaploun; National League of Cities CEO and Executive Director Clarence Jones; African American Mayors Association (AAMA) CEO Phyllis Dickerson; Jewish Federation of Greater New Orleans CEO Sherri Tarr; U.S. District Court Judge (Southern District of Florida) Roy Altman; Providence Mayor and CAM Mayors Advisory Board Chair Brett Smiley; Beverly Hills Mayor and CAM Mayors Advisory Board Member Sharona Nazarian; Savannah Mayor Van Johnson, former Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney; and former Gaza hostage Almog Meir Jan, among others.
At the summit’s concluding dinner at the Caesars Superdome on Wednesday, New York City Mayor Eric Adams announced two new executive orders — one prohibiting mayoral appointees and agency staff from boycotting and disinvesting from Israel and the other protecting New Yorkers’ rights to free exercise of religion without harassment at houses of worship.
“I say to my Jewish brothers and sisters — your legacy in this generation is to say we run no more. We stand and fight. We don’t live in fear, hoping that it goes away,” Mayor Adams said. “We must stop antisemitism because we are all connected, and we’re all involved in this together.”
In a conversation with CAM U.S. Advisory Board Chair Arie Lipnick and CAM U.S. Advisory Board Member and former U.S. Deputy Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Antisemitism Aaron Keyak, U.S. Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Antisemitism Nominee Yehuda Kaploun — whose appointment was advanced by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Wednesday — said, “Fighting antisemitism is a moral obligation for all of us. Antisemitism is anti-American. Racism is anti-American. This is not what the Founding Fathers wanted for our country, and the fact we’re having this conversation on the eve of America’s 250th birthday means we all have a better job to do.”
“Myself, the president, the secretary of state, and the entire administration are going to work tirelessly to make sure religious liberty, justice, and restoring respect for humanity for everybody is the goal,” he added. “I will be your best partner, and the administration will be your best partner. Reach out, and I will help.”
At Tuesday’s opening dinner at historic Gallier Hall, Mayor Cantrell — the host of the summit — said, “While we’re standing together against antisemitism, we’re standing together against every form of hate, wherever it is, and however it comes.”
“It’s not just about one, it’s about all,” she added. “You can’t stand against hate on just one side. It’s all or nothing.”
CAM CEO Sacha Roytman told summit participants, “We know the responsibility that comes with leading a city, and we know that fighting antisemitism is only one of the many challenges you face. Your presence today shows that, like us, you are looking for solutions and you want your cities to be safe for the Jewish community and for everyone who calls them home.”
“This summit is about ensuring that history does not repeat itself,” he emphasized. “This summit is a call for leadership, courage, and partnership.”
CAM Chief Government Affairs Officer Lisa Katz, who leads CAM’s mayoral initiatives in North America, said at Wednesday’s plenary, “Antisemitism is not a niche issue. It is racism. It is conspiracy thinking. It is dehumanization. And once it is unleashed, it never stays confined to one group.”
“This summit is about a toolbox and a network — real relationships among mayors so you can lean on each other when any community is under threat,” she added.
Mayor Smiley — chair of CAM’s new Mayors Advisory Board — said, “I’m here at my third CAM conference, because I have found this conference to be exactly what mayors look for when we take time out of our schedule to travel — information that is informative, timely, and real practical and actionable steps that we walk away with. And right now we have a community in each of our cities that is under attack.”
“I know that each of our communities is different, but it has gotten harder for all of us,” Smiley continued. “We have a lot of work to do. There are antisemitic voices on the fringes of both sides of the political spectrum. While they may be fringes, I think we all know they are often loud, especially online. Your cities and towns need you, your Jewish communities need you, and every other online group in your community needs — whether they know it or not — to see you fighting for this issue.”
Mayors Nancy Rotering (Highland Park, Illinois) and Alix Desulme (North Miami, Florida) were presented with CAM’s Mayor of Courage Award, recognizing their exceptional courage, moral clarity, and leadership in standing up to antisemitism.
“This fight against antisemitism requires more than just statements,” Desulme said. “It demands education, especially from us, municipal leaders, who are on the frontlines every day, and we are closest to the people. We see the consequences of hate, misinformation, and vision, and our neighborhood are our front and center.”
The summit also saw powerful testimony from Josh and Julia Zuckerman, a New Orleans Jewish couple whose family home was targeted in an antisemitic vandalism incident last year.
“What happened to us can happen to anyone anywhere, in any city, in any home,” the Zuckermans said. “Please believe your Jewish communities when they say something is wrong. Take them seriously when they ask for help and security. Understand these threats are real. Be brave. Your leadership matters. Your voice matters. And your choices — what you condemn, what you fund, what you prioritize — can make the difference between a family feeling safe or feeling hunted.”
Clarence Anthony — CEO and Executive Director of the National League of Cities and former Mayor of South Bay, Florida — said, “Mayors set the moral tone in your communities. When you speak, speak unequivocally against hate, no matter what form it comes in. Stand up quickly. Respond responsibly around issues of safety. Encourage your residents to report hate crimes, because data tells the story. Build a collaborative coalition across your communities. And model courage.”
U.S. District Court Judge (Southern District of Florida) Roy Altman shared his own family’s Holocaust history, before turning to the rise of antisemitism today.
“We are not going back to the killing fields of Babi Yar and the gas chambers of Auschwitz, because it’s not the American way,” he said. “Because we as Americans, we object, and we will never let it happen again, so long as people of good faith like each and every one of you are willing to stand up and lead.”
Wednesday’s programing featured a series of keynote speeches, panel discussions, educational presentations, and interactive workshops, among other activities.
Discussion topics at the summit included:
- Antisemitism and Extremist Threats in North America Today
- When Hate Hits Home: What Mayors Do Next
- Recognizing the Shift From Protest to Intimidation
- Managing Community Tension Through Municipal Leadership
- When Students Are Targeted: The Role of the Mayor
- Leading From City Hall Against Antisemitism and Bias
- Beyond Agreements: Living the Spirit of the Abraham Accords
- Confronting Disinformation to Prevent Antisemitism
- Local Legal Frameworks to Fight Antisemitism
- Prevention and Preparedness: How to Identify and Counter Violent Radicalization
Mayors also participated in a City Action Lab led by CAM Advisory Board Member and former Bal Harbour (Florida) Mayor Gabriel Groisman, and an open-mic dialogue moderated by Katz.
The winners of CAM’s 2025 Jewish American Heritage Month (JAHM) contest were recognized in a special ceremony at the summit.
Organizing partners and supporters for the summit include: City of New Orleans, Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, African American Mayors Association (AAMA), New Orleans & Company, StandWithUs, New Orleans Tourism and Cultural Foundation, and the Jewish Federation of Greater New Orleans.
CAM works hand-in-hand with municipal authorities on a daily basis to secure and nurture Jewish life in cities around the world. Past mayoral summits have been held in: Frankfurt, Germany; Athens, Greece; Fort Lauderdale, Florida; Dortmund, Germany; Beverly Hills, California; Gold Coast, Australia; and Paris, France.
For more information about the summit, please read:
