As anti-Semitism reaches levels not seen in decades, legal scholars, prosecutors, and community leaders gathered in Queens to confront this growing crisis and examine how the justice system can serve as a powerful tool to counter hate.
The full-day conference, “Combating Anti-Jewish Hate Crimes in a Post-October 7 World,” took place on September 17 at the Helen Marshall Cultural Center inside Queens Borough Hall. Hosted by Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz in partnership with the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) of New York and New Jersey, the event brought together prosecutors, law enforcement personnel, legal scholars, and policy experts. Attendance was restricted to district attorneys and law enforcement officials, reflecting the advanced level of training, collaboration, and legal discourse.
In the wake of the October 7 Hamas attacks, New York City experienced a sharp rise in hate crimes targeting both Jewish and Muslim communities. Although anti-Muslim incidents have since declined, anti-Semitic offenses remain alarmingly high, now accounting for more than half of all reported hate crimes citywide. In response, the Queens District Attorney’s Office launched this inaugural symposium to strengthen legal protections, ensure accountability, and safeguard vulnerable communities.
“Our office is deeply committed to protecting every community threatened by hate,” said District Attorney Katz. “By sharing prosecutorial expertise and building strong partnerships, we aim to ensure that perpetrators of anti-Semitic violence are held accountable and that the legal system acts as a shield for those targeted.”
The program included presentations from members of the Manhattan District Attorney’s Hate Crimes Unit, who joined ADL and Queens prosecutors to examine investigative techniques, evidentiary standards, and litigation strategies. Discussions centered on interagency coordination, innovative litigation approaches, and stronger enforcement as essential tools for deterrence and successful convictions.
Sessions also addressed the most pressing challenges facing hate crime victims – including emotional trauma, cultural and language barriers, and a lack of legal awareness – all of which can prevent victims from reporting incidents or engaging with the justice system. Speakers emphasized the importance of cultural competency training for prosecutors and investigators to build trust and improve communication with affected communities.
The symposium coincided with the release of Anti-Semitism and the Law (Carolina Academic Press, 2025), a landmark 725-page casebook authored by Professor Robert Katz of Indiana University. Supported by major funding from ADL, the book offers the first comprehensive scholarly analysis of how legal systems across millennia have both perpetuated anti-Semitism and advanced Jewish emancipation.
“The law has the power both to oppress and to liberate,” Katz writes. The text explores the dual role of legal institutions: as instruments of persecution – exemplified by the Spanish Inquisition, the Dreyfus Affair, and the Leo Frank trial – and as vehicles for justice, including the Nuremberg Trials, US civil rights jurisprudence, and modern hate crime legislation.
Organized into five major sections – anti-discrimination law, Jewish identity, anti-Semitic speech and regulation, civil rights protections, and alliances against anti-Semitism – the casebook offers both historical context and doctrinal analysis. It is designed for use not only in law schools but also as a resource for policymakers, advocates, and practitioners committed to building a more equitable society.
While prosecution remains essential, experts at the symposium stressed the need for long-term, systemic strategies to address anti-Semitism at its roots. These include developing national policy frameworks to standardize hate crime reporting, expanding funding for community-based prevention programs, integrating anti-Semitism education into law enforcement training, and advocating for stronger federal legislation to combat online hate and extremist networks.
Partnerships with technology companies to monitor anti-Semitic activity online and collaborative initiatives involving schools, synagogues, and local governments were also highlighted as crucial components of a sustainable response.
Several sessions explored how extremist groups weaponize digital platforms to spread hate, recruit followers, radicalize individuals, and coordinate real-world violence. Prosecutors were urged to deepen collaboration with federal agencies, social media platforms, and civil society organizations to counter the evolving threat landscape.
Queens – home to one of the largest Jewish populations in the United States – remains a central battleground in the fight against anti-Semitism. This symposium represented a significant advancement in that fight.
