AJC's State Action Plan to Counter Antisemitism Template
Action plans to counter antisemitism provide a clear framework for prevention, coordination, and accountability across agencies. Formal strategies specifically to address antisemitism provide the most comprehensive, effective results. Use the below as a template for your state's action plan.
GOVERNOR [NAME]
STATE OF [STATE] PLAN TO COUNTER ANTISEMITISM
Purpose
Antisemitism threatens not only Jewish communities, but the core American values of equality, freedom, and pluralism. The State of [State] commits to a comprehensive strategy to understand, respond to, prevent, and protect against antisemitism, while upholding civil rights, public safety, and freedom of worship.
I. LEADERSHIP & ACCOUNTABILITY
Strong, Immediate Condemnation
When antisemitic incidents occur, state leadership—beginning with the Governor—will respond clearly and promptly. Statements will:
- Name and condemn antisemitism as an attack on American values
- Provide victims and communities with resources and guidance
- Emphasize that antisemitism affects society as a whole, not just the Jewish community
Statewide Coordination
The Governor appoints [Name] as State Coordinator to Counter Antisemitism, responsible for:
- Implementing this plan across agencies
- Coordinating rapid responses to security threats
- Serving as the central contact for the Jewish community and other minority groups
- Reporting annually to the Governor and Legislature
II. THE CHALLENGE: ANTISEMITISM TODAY
The statistics make this urgent. According to AJC’s State of Antisemitism in America 2025 Report:
- 91% of American Jews feel less safe following violent antisemitic incidents in 2025, including the Passover arson attack on Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro’s residence, the murders of Sarah Milgrim and Yaron Lischinsky in D.C., and the Boulder firebombing that killed 82-year-old Holocaust survivor Karen Diamond. That was before 15 people were murdered at a Hanukkah celebration in Sydney and before the only synagogue in Jackson, Mississippi, was firebombed.
- 86% say antisemitism has increased since the October 7 Hamas attacks against Israel.
- Nearly three-quarters (73%) have experienced antisemitism online.
- Over half (55%) have altered their daily behaviors out of fear, from hiding Stars of David to skipping synagogue services.
- 17% have considered leaving the U.S. due to antisemitism over the past five years.
III. UNDERSTANDING ANTISEMITISM
Education & Awareness
- Agencies will distribute educational resources in multiple languages.
- Schools, public libraries, and online platforms will provide access to materials like AJC’s Translate Hate glossary.
- Educators, law enforcement, and community leaders will receive guidance to recognize and prevent antisemitism.
IV. ENSURING PUBLIC SAFETY
Protecting Houses of Worship and Community Institutions
- Expand and institutionalize State Nonprofit Security Grant Program for houses of worship (including synagogues), schools, and cultural organizations, or establish one should no such program exist. These grants cover:
- Security upgrades and planning
- Threat assessments and emergency preparedness
- Contracted security personnel where appropriate
- Coordinate with faith leaders on security plans and emergency protocols
Enforcement of Existing Laws
- Fully enforce statutes protecting minority communities against harassment, intimidation, and violence
- Ensure safety for community members entering, exiting, or worshipping at houses of worship by implementing policies such as safe worship/buffer zones and restrictions on targeted harassment (e.g., flyering).
- Issue clear guidance from the Attorney General and State Police reaffirming that antisemitic hate crimes will be vigorously investigated and prosecuted
- Conduct periodic statewide assessments to evaluate laws, training, reporting systems, and security programs to identify gaps, measure progress, and ensure policies remain effective as threats evolve.
Strengthen Hate Crime Identification & Reporting
- Clarify state hate crime laws to cover Jews based on religion, ethnicity, ancestry, or perceived identity; consider how some politically-motivated crimes (eg. anti-Zionist) have a disparate impact on one group
- Require all law enforcement agencies to report hate crime data to the FBI annually
- Establish a Commission on Hate and Bias to track incidents, publish data, recommend policy improvements, and support victims
Victim Services & Rapid Response
- Connect victims to legal, counseling, and community support resources promptly
- The State Coordinator will facilitate rapid responses to serious incidents
V. EDUCATION AND CAMPUS SAFETY
K–12 Education
- Adopt statewide nondiscrimination protections for students and staff, including a streamlined, efficient, and accessible complaint process and required response for schools
- Enhance state standards to deepen accurate and inclusive education regarding Holocaust, Jewish history, and Jewish identity and provide necessary professional development to support teachers in meeting enhanced standards
- Implement antisemitism and media literacy training opportunities for administrators, educators, and students
Higher Education
- Adopt statewide nondiscrimination protections for students and staff, including a streamlined, efficient, and accessible complaint process and required response for colleges and universities
- Bolster coordination and response between campus security personnel and local law enforcement, and call on law enforcement as needed to enforce state law
- Encourage colleges and universities to clarify and enforce time, place, and manner rules regarding campus protests on public campuses, consistent with the First Amendment
VI. TRAINING AND CAPACITY BUILDING
State Employees & Law Enforcement
- All state employees, elected officials’ staff, and law enforcement personnel receive training to:
- Recognize and respond to antisemitism
- Identify hate crimes, including antisemitism in the guise of criticism of Israel
- Report incidents to central authorities
- Law enforcement receives mandatory annual hate crime training, including campus and school officers
Community Engagement
- Include local Jewish leaders in training programs to ensure awareness of specific threats
- Support youth programs to prevent recruitment by extremist groups
- Promote media literacy and critical thinking to reduce online radicalization
VII. CULTURAL AND CIVIC INITIATIVES
Holocaust and Jewish Education
- Strengthen Holocaust education standards to include historical context (including regarding the cultural contributions and achievements of Jewish life before and after), contemporary antisemitism, and other best educational practices consistent with those set out by the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum
- Support Jewish and Holocaust museums for educational outreach
- Mandate assessments of how effectively public schools teach the Holocaust, and support professional development opportunities and best practice sharing to address gaps
Curriculum Inclusion
- Ensure Jewish Americans are included in curricular programs that teach about the history and breadth of the American experience
- Train educators to recognize antisemitism in classrooms
Celebrating Jewish Life and Heritage
- Recognize International Holocaust Remembrance Day (Jan 27) and Jewish American Heritage Month (May) with statewide programming and curricula
- Coordinate school calendars and accommodations for major Jewish holidays
VIII. GLOBAL ENGAGEMENT & ALLIANCES
Strengthen State-Israel Partnerships
- Expand MOUs in research, innovation, and education
- Support academic exchanges and study-abroad programs and oppose efforts such as those advanced by the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions Movement against Israel that would limit exchanges
IX. BUILDING BROAD SOLIDARITY
- Convene interfaith and cross-community coalitions to address antisemitism and all forms of hate
- Apply lessons learned to protect other targeted communities, including Muslim, Sikh, and other religious minorities
- Promote volunteer service initiatives that unite communities across lines of faith and background
X. CONCLUSION
Antisemitism is a threat to the safety, freedom, and dignity of all residents. By prioritizing public safety, enforcing laws protecting minority communities, investing in community security, and promoting education and mutual understanding, the State of [State] commits to a future where every person can live, learn, and worship free from fear.
