Combat Antisemitism Movement hosted the North American Mayors Summit Against Antisemitism in Fort Lauderdale.
Community leaders from over 50 cities discussed the surge in antisemitism targeting Jewish communities following the Hamas terror attack on Israel on October 7. The summit looked at best practices to combat antisemitism.
Mayors from Cleveland, Richmond, Las Vegas, New York City, and Miami were among the delegates. Participants included police officers and council members at panel sessions.
A 10-step rapid response action plan was agreed upon. Long-term strategies were established to aid zero-tolerance policies in each city.
A CAM spokesman said: “A topic of discussion was the recent troubling surge in hate crimes. Questions were raised about societal factors that have contributed to hatred and the need to address issues urgently. It became evident to all participants that there is no distinction between antizionism and antisemitism. Calls to dismantle the State of Israel, incite a new intifada, or advocate for the ‘liberation of Palestine’ from the ‘river to the sea’ are considered antisemitic behaviors.” They added: “I take pride in the partnerships we have forged with cities across the US. I firmly believe that these leaders possess the power to effect positive change.”
Fort Lauderdale Mayor and Summit Chair Dean Trantalis and Miami Mayor Francis Suarez, CAM CEO Sacha Roytman, and Jewish Federations of North American President Eric Fingerhut addressed the summit’s opening dinner.
Diego Engelbert and Maayan Sigal-Koren, who have nine family members held hostage by Hamas, called for international intervention to ‘bring them home’.
Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney received the Civic Leadership Award for municipal leaders. NBA Hall-of-Famer Alonzo Mourning received CAM’s Community Builder Award.
“It is up to us as mayors and as leaders to send a clear message that antisemitism will never find refuge in our cities, that none of our residents should have to live in fear,” said Mayor of Richmond, Virginia, Levar Stoney.
The next day’s plenary session included keynote remarks by Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb, Las Vegas City Councilwoman Victoria Seaman, and Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations CEO William Daroff.
Panels addressed municipal-oriented approaches to confronting antisemitism and securing Jewish life.
Stephen K. Benjamin, Assistant to President Joe Biden, spoke about the role mayors play in the implementation of the first US National Strategy to Counter Antisemitism launched this year.
“The work has not changed since October 7th, it’s only sped up,” said Benjamin, Senior Advisor to Biden and Director of the White House Office of Public Engagement.
The summit ended with a gala dinner in Hollywood, Florida.
Main speakers included New York Police Department Commissioner Edward Caban, Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz, CNN host Van Jones, Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava, Providence Mayor Brett Smiley, and Hollywood Mayor Josh Levy.
Natalie Sanandaji, a survivor of the Nova music festival massacre, gave a harrowing account of the massacre. Natalie has joined CAM as a project manager.
The European Mayors Summit Against Antisemitism conference takes place in Dortmund this week. Leaders from over 60 cities were expected to attend.
