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Las Vegas was among the nearly 60 cities represented at the 2023 North American Mayors Summit Against Antisemitism in November, with City Councilwoman Victoria Seaman traveling to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, to address the forum, which was organized by the Combat Antisemitism Movement (CAM).
After the summit, Councilwoman Seaman — a former state assemblywoman who is running for mayor in June’s municipal elections in Las Vegas — returned home energized to step up her efforts to counter the global surge of antisemitism sweeping across the globe, including her city, in the wake of the October 7th Hamas attack on Israel.
This week, she spoke with CAM Editor-in-Chief Barney Breen-Portnoy to reflect on her experience at the summit and share her insights on the vital role of municipal officials in the collective effort against antisemitism.
How did the North American Mayors Summit Against Antisemitism contribute to your understanding of the nature of modern-day antisemitism and ways to confront it?
“I was already aware of modern-day antisemitism all around the world. My Jewish daughter has been living here and in Paris, and she’s been quite surprised at what’s happening around the world. But being at the summit helped me realize how important it is for all local government leaders to come together against antisemitism. I think when we look back at what happened during the Holocaust, people were afraid to stand against antisemitism. With these summits, and we have social media now, we need to make sure that people know that we, as leaders, are not tolerating antisemitism. I think that’s key. It’s something that didn’t happen in the past, and we certainly don’t want the past to repeat itself.”
“Another great takeaway for me was meeting with mayors and other council members and deciding that it’s time to do an ordinance and a resolution against antisemitism, and define antisemitism, to make it easier for our local law enforcement to prosecute. We need to work with different people who are of the same mindset to really eradicate, as much as we can, antisemitism.”
What specific actions are you already undertaking or are planning to undertake in your city against antisemitism?
“We doing an ordinance and a resolution. The point of the ordinance is essentially to make it easy to define what antisemitism is. We’re working with our attorneys on this, and there’s already been a first draft. But it’s basically the IHRA definition.”
Speaking of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) Working Definition of Antisemitism, what role do you think it can play in your city’s efforts to combat Jew-hatred?
“It’s important. First and foremost, our City Council must show that we’re not tolerating antisemitism in any form. Second, I think the definition is important, so that law enforcement has something to work on. We want to make sure we’re helping the police department what antisemitism is.
Are there any other cities-oriented strategies or approaches have you found particularly effective in addressing contemporary manifestations of antisemitism?
“Let me give you an example. Right after October 7th, my ward, Ward 2, which has the highest Jewish population in Las Vegas, was filled with hate graffiti. I left a council meeting when I found out, and I joined a protest organized by the Jewish community against the graffiti. There was media, and we had police there in big numbers. I spoke very strong and loud, not just with the media, but I also came back to the council meeting after I attended the rally, and I got on camera and said we’re just not going to tolerate antisemitism or hate speech in any form.”
“As a leader, if you’re not standing against this hate, then there’s no place for you in leadership. I mean, you have to stand up against what is wrong. When you don’t stand, then it continues on. And I can tell you this, since that happened, we have not had more graffiti in my ward. This is why I speak everywhere I can against antisemitism.”
Have you faced any backlash to your vocal opposition to antisemitism?
“People will write things on my social media, but it doesn’t matter to me. I stand for what is right, and I will continue to stand for what is right, regardless of if I am threatened or whatever it is. I’m in this position of leadership to stand for what is right, and when I can’t do that, I don’t need to be in leadership anymore.”
How can CAM help municipal leaders fight antisemitism?
“Continue having these summits and continue to invite leaders from all around the country and the world — leaders who will understand that they have to stand strong against any hate, especially antisemitism. I think it’s important that we continue this so we all can be together, united and knowing that we have support across the country. I saw old friends at the summit and made new ones, and when we need support, it’s important we have those relationships. Standing together and being strong is going to help us fight this.”
