Over 300 Jewish students, supporters, and international leaders gathered in Midtown Manhattan for the Combat Antisemitism Movement's 'Rise & Respond: Global Student Summit Against Antisemitism' to meet the increasing challenge of antisemitism on university campuses.
The summit, held amid a sharp rise in antisemitic incidents at universities worldwide, provided students with a platform to share their experiences and strategize on countering campus discrimination. According to the Antisemitism Research Center at CAM, 742 antisemitic incidents have been recorded on U.S. campuses in 2024 a 120.8% increase from 2023.
The event was particularly timely with the current crisis at Columbia University and fresh federal actions by the Trump administration to hold universities accountable for not being able to keep Jewish students and faculty safe from harassment, discrimination, and violence.
One highlight of the summit was the presentation of the Student Activist Award to Michael Kaminsky, a junior at DePaul University, who was assaulted on campus by masked attackers as a university safety officer stood by and did nothing. Kaminsky has since become a leading voice for Jewish rights.
"On that day, I realized the struggles my family had gone through under Nazi and Soviet rule", Kaminsky said. "Rather than hiding, I stood up. History will recall those who spoke out for civil rights and hold accountable those who were complacent in the face of atrocities".
The conference ended with a call to action, which challenged institutions to embrace more robust policies against campus antisemitism and protect Jewish students. The importance of unity, resilience, and holding universities accountable was highlighted in the struggle against increasing hatred.
