Frankfurt Mayor Announces “Mayors Against Anti-Semitism: CAM Global Conference.”

On September 16th, 2020, Uwe Becker, the mayor of Frankfurt, Germany and the Commissioner of the Hessian State Government for Jewish Life and the Fight Against Anti-Semitism, addressed the Combat Anti-Semitism Movement’s (CAM) groundbreaking studio event, “The IHRA Definition of Anti-Semitism: Eleven Examples, Eleven Stories.”

During his appearance at this international forum about the merits of adopting the IHRA definition of anti-Semitism, Mayor Becker announced that he will be hosting an upcoming global conference in November entitled, “Mayors Against Anti-Semitism: CAM Global Conference.”

Watch Frankfurt Mayor Becker’s full announcement below:

In addition to his roles as mayor of Frankfurt and as the Hessian State anti-Semitism commissioner, Uwe Becker also serves on the advisory board of the Combat Anti-Semitism Movement and is an internationally recognized advocate for the Jewish people and the State of Israel.

While discussions around advocacy and policy geared towards combating anti-Semitism, often take place on the national level and through international forums, acts of anti-Semitism principally take place in local communities. As anti-Semitism on the internet and social media platforms continues to proliferate in the digital sphere, it often leads to real life incidents on the ground. Addressing this idea, Mayor Becker said, “When we see the rise of the hate against Jews all around the world, its not some abstract way of dealing with this issue but it takes place in our cities, in our towns, in our counties all around the world. For that reason, it is necessary that we confront and fight against anti-Semitism where it takes place.”

Demonstrating that municipal and local leaders can have an important and lasting impact in the fight against anti-Semitism, Mayor Becker urged other municipal representatives to stand up and protect their Jewish communities. “We all as mayors and municipal representatives have not only the opportunity but its our duty to work for Jewish life, for the security of Jewish life so that people can show and practice their Jewish beliefs all around the world – within the city, within the town, within the counties,” he said.

Mayor Becker announced the upcoming “Mayors Against Anti-Semitism: CAM Global Conference,” and invited mayors from around the world to participate in this important international discussion in early November. “For these reasons, at the beginning of November, all mayors and municipal leaders around the world are invited to join this great conference where we will speak about the instruments and methods of how to confront hate speech and anti-Semitism at the place [where they occur]…”

Hoping to start a conversation about the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of anti-Semitism among local leaders from around the world, Mayor Becker said that he “hopes that on the west or east coast of the United States, in Europe, in Israel, or elsewhere in the world, municipal leaders will join and will speak about the IHRA definition that we just heard about. How to introduce it…How to put it into practical politics.”

Mayor Becker expressed his intent that the conference would allow municipal leaders to share best practices and collaborate in stunting the growth of anti-Semitism globally. “Where Jewish life is present [today], it should [also] be tomorrow. We will speak about how to also bring bridges and build bridges in between Jewish communities and their surroundings. Last but not least, [we will speak] about the practical instruments of how to fight anti-Semitism in our towns.” As the mayor of a large European city and the anti-Semitism commissioner of a German state with more than six million citizens, Becker will be using his considerable expertise in both municipal politics and anti-Semitism policy to lead this important global discussion of local leaders.