Ohio Mayors Unite to Explore Local Solutions to Rising Antisemitism at Cleveland Area Forum

Nearly a dozen mayors and municipal officials from across the Cleveland area in Ohio converged on Lorain City Hall Thursday for a collaborative dialogue organized by the Combat Antisemitism Movement (CAM) to confront the urgent threat of rising Jew-hatred and develop city-based strategies to counter it.

Thursday’s gathering was hosted by the City of Lorain and Mayor Jack Bradley, and the roundtable discussion was 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).

The meeting came shortly after CAM’s Antisemitism Research Center (ARC) documented 183 incidents of antisemitism last week, more than one every hour — a grim statistic highlighting the urgent need for decisionmakers at all levels of government to take concrete steps to protect Jewish communities. Thursday’s forum was a direct response to that reality.

In addition to the host, other cities represented at Thursday’s closed-door forum included: Cleveland (Senior Policy Advisor Kate Nielson and Strategic Project Specialist Grant Gravagna), Cleveland Heights (City Council Member Jessica Cohen), Elyria (Mayor Kevin Brubaker), Orange Village (Mayor Judson Klein), South Amherst (Records Clerk Laurie Beran), and University Heights (Mayor Michele Weiss).

The Ohio forum was the fourth in CAM’s rapidly expanding regional series of follow-ups to the 2025 North American Mayors Summit Against Antisemitism in New Orleans, Louisiana, in December — with the first being held in Georgia in January, followed by Utah in February and Northern California in March.

During Thursday’s three-hour program, the mayors 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, buffer zone legislation for protests, educational initiatives, and law enforcement training programs.

“When antisemitism surges to more than one incident per hour, mayors cannot afford to be bystanders,” said Katz. “The leaders who gathered in Lorain came ready to act, and CAM is proud to work alongside a growing nationwide movement of municipal officials who understand that protecting Jewish communities requires concrete tools and strategies, not just words.”

Mayor Bradley said, “I was honored to participate and host this important symposium sponsored by the Combat Antisemitism Movement. Hatred and intolerance have no place in our communities. At a time when division too often dominates public discourse, mayors must stand together in support of people of every faith and background. Lorain has always found its strength in diversity, and we are committed to continuing to be a place where every person feels safe, valued, and respected.”

The forum also featured a presentation by Jewish Federation of Cleveland External Affairs Associate Aaron Abel.

Thursday’s event deepened a relationship with northern Ohio that began last August, when Katz led a specialized training session for law enforcement and public safety officials in Elyria.

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