Some 200 municipal authorities and community representatives from across the US and Canada converged on New Orleans in early December for the 2025 North American Mayors Summit Against Antisemitism, an initiative of the Combat Antisemitism Movement (CAM). The annual assembly functions as a collaborative hub where city executives can examine contemporary antisemitism, exchange proven methodologies, and formulate policy to improve safety for their constituents, according to the organization.
Prominent figures at the event included New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell, New York City Mayor Eric Adams, US Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Antisemitism Nominee Rabbi Yehuda Kaploun, and National League of Cities CEO Clarence Jones. CAM noted that other attendees included Phyllis Dickerson of the African American Mayors Association, Sherri Tarr of the Jewish Federation of Greater New Orleans, US District Court Judge Roy Altman, Providence Mayor Brett Smiley, and former Gaza hostage Almog Meir Jan.
At the concluding banquet at the Caesars Superdome, Mayor Adams unveiled executive orders prohibiting city personnel from boycotting Israel and securing religious freedom in New York. "I say to my Jewish brothers and sisters – your legacy in this generation is to say we run no more. We stand and fight. We don't live in fear, hoping that it goes away," Adams declared, per CAM. "We must stop antisemitism because we are all connected, and we're all involved in this together."
In conversation with CAM leadership, nominee Yehuda Kaploun remarked, "Fighting antisemitism is a moral obligation for all of us. Antisemitism is anti-American. Racism is anti-American. This is not what the Founding Fathers wanted for our country, and the fact we're having this conversation on the eve of America's 250th birthday means we all have a better job to do."
"Myself, the president, the secretary of state, and the entire administration are going to work tirelessly to make sure religious liberty, justice, and restoring respect for humanity for everybody is the goal," Kaploun continued, according to the organizers. "I will be your best partner, and the administration will be your best partner. Reach out, and I will help."
At the opening dinner, the host, Mayor Cantrell stated, "While we're standing together against antisemitism, we're standing together against every form of hate, wherever it is, and however it comes." She added, "It's not just about one, it's about all," and noted, "You can't stand against hate on just one side. It's all or nothing."
CAM CEO Sacha Roytman addressed the officials: "We know the responsibility that comes with leading a city, and we know that fighting antisemitism is only one of the many challenges you face. Your presence today shows that, like us, you are looking for solutions and you want your cities to be safe for the Jewish community and for everyone who calls them home."
"This summit is about ensuring that history does not repeat itself," Roytman stressed, per the report. "This summit is a call for leadership, courage, and partnership."
Lisa Katz, CAM's Chief Government Affairs Officer, told the plenary session, "Antisemitism is not a niche issue. It is racism. It is conspiracy thinking. It is dehumanization. And once it is unleashed, it never stays confined to one group."
"This summit is about a toolbox and a network – real relationships among mayors so you can lean on each other when any community is under threat," Katz added.
Mayor Smiley, heading the CAM Mayors Advisory Board, said, "I'm here at my third CAM conference, because I have found this conference to be exactly what mayors look for when we take time out of our schedule to travel – information that is informative, timely, and real practical and actionable steps that we walk away with. And right now we have a community in each of our cities that is under attack."
"I know that each of our communities is different, but it has gotten harder for all of us," Smiley observed, according to CAM. "We have a lot of work to do. There are antisemitic voices on the fringes of both sides of the political spectrum. While they may be fringes, I think we all know they are often loud, especially online. Your cities and towns need you, your Jewish communities need you, and every other online group in your community needs – whether they know it or not – to see you fighting for this issue."
CAM honored Mayors Nancy Rotering and Alix Desulme with the Mayor of Courage Award. "This fight against antisemitism requires more than just statements," Desulme said. "It demands education, especially from us, municipal leaders, who are on the frontlines every day, and we are closest to the people. We see the consequences of hate, misinformation, and vision, and our neighborhood are our front and center."
Josh and Julia Zuckerman provided testimony about vandalism at their home in New Orleans. "What happened to us can happen to anyone anywhere, in any city, in any home," they said, per CAM. "Please believe your Jewish communities when they say something is wrong. Take them seriously when they ask for help and security. Understand these threats are real. Be brave. Your leadership matters. Your voice matters. And your choices – what you condemn, what you fund, what you prioritize – can make the difference between a family feeling safe or feeling hunted."
CEO and Executive Director of the National League of Cities and former Mayor of South Bay, Florida Clarence Anthony advised the mayors: "Mayors set the moral tone in your communities. When you speak, speak unequivocally against hate, no matter what form it comes in. Stand up quickly. Respond responsibly around issues of safety. Encourage your residents to report hate crimes, because data tells the story. Build a collaborative coalition across your communities. And model courage."
US District Court Judge Roy Altman, reflecting on his family's survival of the Holocaust, stated, "We are not going back to the killing fields of Babi Yar and the gas chambers of Auschwitz, because it's not the American way," according to the report. "Because we as Americans, we object, and we will never let it happen again, so long as people of good faith like each and every one of you are willing to stand up and lead."
The summit featured workshops on extremist threats, student safety, and legal frameworks, alongside a City Action Lab led by former Mayor Gabriel Groisman. CAM noted that the event, supported by the City of New Orleans and other partners, follows previous gatherings in Frankfurt, Athens, Fort Lauderdale, Dortmund, Beverly Hills, Gold Coast, and Paris.
