More than 300 Jewish students and allies from universities worldwide convened in New York City for the Rise & Respond: Global Student Summit Against Antisemitism, addressing the alarming surge of antisemitic incidents on college campuses.
The Combat Antisemitism Movement (CAM) documented 742 antisemitic incidents on American campuses in 2024, a staggering 120.8% increase from 336 incidents in 2023. The summit provided a critical platform for students to share personal experiences and develop strategies to counter this growing threat.
Notable participants included Michael Kaminsky, a DePaul University student awarded CAM's Student Activist Award after experiencing a campus assault, and high-profile speakers such as Sheryl Sandberg and U.S. Congresswoman Claudia Tenney. The event launched the FACE Antisemitism Initiative and a HEAT Map & Advocacy Platform designed to identify and expose sources of antisemitic rhetoric.
The summit underscored the urgent need for collective action in protecting Jewish students from discrimination, harassment, and violence. Speakers emphasized the importance of individual engagement, with social media influencer Montana Tucker noting that "every voice can make a difference" in combating hatred.
As campuses continue to grapple with rising antisemitism, the summit represented a significant mobilization of students, community leaders, and activists committed to creating safer educational environments and challenging discriminatory practices.
