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More than a dozen mayors and municipal officials from across South Carolina convened in the state capital, Columbia, on Thursday for a collaborative forum organized by the Combat Antisemitism Movement (CAM) to address the growing threat of Jew-hatred and develop locally tailored plans to counter it.
The South Carolina Mayors Roundtable on Antisemitism was hosted by Columbia Mayor Daniel Rickenmann and moderated by CAM Chief Government Affairs Officer Lisa Katz, who leads CAM’s work with North American mayors and is a former town supervisor of New Castle (New York).
In addition to the host, other cities represented at Wednesday’s closed-door gathering included: Blythewood (Mayor Sloan Griffin III), Bishopville (Mayor Luke D. Giddings), Chapin (Mayor Bill Mitchell Jr.), Charleston (City Council Member Ross Appel), Chester (Mayor Carlos Williams), Eastover (Mayor James Faber), Forest Acres (Mayor Thomas Andrews), Great Falls (Mayor Keevi Worthy), Hollywood (Mayor Chardale Murray), Irmo (Mayor Bill Danielson), Holly Hill (Mayor Michael D. Dennis), Lexington (Mayor Hazel Livingston), Newberry (Mayor Foster Senn), South Congaree (Mayor Cindy Campbell), St. Matthews (Mayor Helen Carson), West Columbia (Mayor Tem Miles), and Winnsboro (Mayor Demetrious Chatman).
The South Carolina forum was the fifth in CAM’s regional series of follow-ups to the 2025 North American Mayors Summit Against Antisemitism in New Orleans, Louisiana, last December — with the first being held in Georgia in January, followed by Utah in February, Northern California in March, and Ohio in May.
CAM’s Antisemitism Research Center (ARC) documented 6,819 antisemitic incidents worldwide in 2025 — a 7.8% rise from the previous year and more than 250% higher than pre-October 7th levels — and 1,955 of these incidents occurred in the United States. The data underscores the urgent need for decisionmakers at all tiers of government to take concrete steps to safeguard Jewish communities, and mayors have a unique ability to make an impact on the ground.
During Wednesday’s two-hour program, the participants shared experiences and explored best practices and actionable strategies to combat antisemitism, with a particular focus on the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) Working Definition of Antisemitism, rapid response protocols, educational initiatives, and law enforcement training programs.
The forum also featured a presentation by Columbia Jewish Federation Executive Director Jessie Dowaskul.
“I was honored to host and be part of this important roundtable and to stand alongside leaders who are committed to confronting antisemitism and all forms of hate,” Mayor Rickenmann said. “There is no place for hatred or intolerance in our communities. As mayors, we have a responsibility to bring people together, protect our communities, and stand up for the dignity and safety of every person.”
“Columbia is a city where everyone should feel welcomed, respected, valued, and included,” he added. “We will continue working together to build a community where every person feels a sense of belonging and has the opportunity to thrive.”
Katz stated, “Today’s roundtable in South Carolina was a powerful reminder that mayors are among our most important allies in the fight against antisemitism. What struck me was not only how strongly these leaders stand with the Jewish community, but how seriously they take their responsibility to confront hate in their own cities.”
“The conversation was candid, practical, and focused on action,” she noted. “At CAM, our goal is to give local leaders the tools, relationships, and support they need to turn their commitment into meaningful action, and today made clear that South Carolina’s mayors are ready to lead.”
CAM works hand-in-hand with municipal authorities worldwide to secure and nurture Jewish life in cities. For more information on CAM’s Mayors Program, including the Municipal Antisemitism Action Plan, please visit: combatantisemitism.org/municipal-action-center
