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In a year when 3.5 million American Jews have reported experiencing antisemitism and 61% say they feel less safe in their communities, more than 200 mayors gathered in Beverly Hills this week for the Combat Antisemitism Movement’s largest-ever Mayors Summit Against Antisemitism to develop concrete action plans for addressing hate in their communities.
The summit, which brought together more than 200 municipal leaders from across North America, concluded with the unveiling of the Municipal Antisemitism Action Index, a first-of-its-kind tool that measures and ranks municipalities’ effectiveness in combating antisemitism and protecting their Jewish residents. This innovative index provides municipalities with measurable criteria and actionable strategies to enhance their responses to hate incidents while offering potential residents a valuable resource when considering relocation.
“The unprecedented attendance at this summit reflects the urgency of our mission,” said Sacha Roytman, CEO of CAM. “With antisemitic incidents reaching historic highs — including 324 incidents recorded on the one-year anniversary of October 7th alone — mayors are uniquely positioned to protect their Jewish constituents where it matters most: in their own communities. This summit has empowered them with practical tools and strategies to transform their commitments into impactful actions. We look forward to seeing the positive changes these cities will implement.”
“Hosting the Combat Antisemitism Movement (CAM) conference in Beverly Hills alongside so many incredible leaders truly demonstrated the shared vision we all had to stand up against antisemitism,” said Beverly Hills Mayor Lester Friedman. “Every one of us are committed to working together as we fight hatred of every kind in our cities across North America. I want to thank CAM for their support as well as our partner, the Consul General of Israel, for keeping this conversation at the forefront.”
Our 2024 #MayorsAgainstAntisemitism summit, hosted by @CityofBevHills, is underway.
More than 200 municipal leaders have gathered to share best practices, foster collaboration, and devise new innovative cities-oriented approaches to fighting the world’s oldest hatred. pic.twitter.com/31bpHAa6Fb
— Combat Antisemitism Movement (@CombatASemitism) December 12, 2024
The summit’s location in Southern California was particularly significant, given the region’s ongoing struggles with escalating antisemitism, notably on college campuses. At UCLA, just miles from Beverly Hills, repeated pro-Hamas protests have created an increasingly hostile environment for Jewish students, including claims of discriminatory hiring practices and incidents of students being blocked from entering classes. These challenges underscore the urgent need for robust municipal responses to combat hate.
On the contrary, Beverly Hills, home to a vibrant Jewish community, stands as a model for municipal response to antisemitism through its robust law enforcement protocols and community support systems.
“If you haven’t laid the groundwork for community relations, you’re already too late. We encourage community organizers to reach out to officers and invite them to their programming to lay the groundwork for these relationships,” said Beverly Hills Police Chief Mark Stainbrook. “When responding to antisemitism, be assured that we’re going to put every resource on it and get out as much information as we can. We try to be as transparent and open as possible.”
The summit featured intensive workshops on law enforcement coordination, legal ordinances, campus issues, and community unity. Participating mayors included Todd Gloria (San Diego, California), Francis Suarez (Miami, Florida), Steven Reed (Montgomery, Alabama), Latoya Cantrell (New Orleans, Louisiana), and Brett Smiley (Providence, Rhode Island).
“By bringing together mayors from diverse communities across North America, we’ve created a powerful network for sharing best practices and innovative solutions,” said Lisa Katz, CAM’s Chief Government Affairs Officer. “The Municipal Antisemitism Action Index will revolutionize how cities approach this challenge, as well as how residents choose their home, providing clear benchmarks and proven strategies for success.”
A key session on “Strengthening Education” brought together educational leaders, students, and policy makers to address antisemitism in schools and universities. The panel featured prominent voices including Dr. Sharon Nazarian from UCLA, Jonathan Sures from the UC Board of Regents, and Nick Melvoin from the Los Angeles Unified School District Board of Education, who provided mayors with concrete strategies for protecting Jewish students through collaborative approaches and policy reform.
The impact of antisemitism on campus life was highlighted by Jake Putzel, a student at the University of Southern California: “After October 7th, my feeling of safety was completely shattered. USC became a hotbed for antisemitism and a hostile environment for Jewish and Zionist students,” said Putzel. “You have a responsibility to your constituents to hold institutions accountable when they fail to protect Jewish students. Los Angeles failed to do this last May. When leaders speak up, students feel supported.”
The full summit agenda can be viewed here.
CAM’s fourth annual mayors summit builds upon prior gatherings in Fort Lauderdale (Florida), Dortmund (Germany), and Athens (Greece), serving not only to expand CAM’s global network of municipal leaders, but also to reconvene annually for a progress review, assessing advancements, and refining strategies to further protect and promote Jewish life in their communities.
For summit photos, please visit the Dropbox link here. Photo credit: Royalty Creation Studios
