By TheJ.Ca Staff

(June 9, 2026 / TheJ.Ca) The U.S. Department of Justice will launch a 14-city nationwide initiative aimed at combating antisemitism, Task Force on Antisemitism Chair Leo Terrell announced Monday evening during an address to delegates of the Zionist Organization of America (ZOA) ahead of the organization’s annual advocacy mission in Washington.

Speaking before hundreds of ZOA delegates, Terrell said the Justice Department intends to increase enforcement efforts in communities across the United States where antisemitic incidents continue to rise. He said the initiative will focus on ensuring that local governments, prosecutors, schools, and public institutions fulfill their legal responsibilities to protect Jewish Americans.

The announcement comes as antisemitism continues to be a major concern across the United States following the Hamas terrorist attacks against Israel on October 7, 2023. Since then, Jewish organizations have documented significant increases in antisemitic incidents, including harassment, vandalism, assaults, threats against Jewish institutions, and discrimination on university campuses.

Terrell said the federal government intends to respond aggressively where local authorities fail to enforce existing laws.

“Antisemitism is local,” Terrell told delegates. “It’s a failure of prosecutors to prosecute. It’s a failure of teachers when they teach antisemitism in schools.”

He added that the Justice Department is prepared to pursue legal action where necessary.

“We are bringing the message that either they prosecute or we will file a lawsuit against them,” Terrell said.

Federal Enforcement Becomes a Central Focus

Terrell’s remarks emphasized that combating antisemitism requires consistent enforcement rather than symbolic statements.

He described the newly announced initiative as a sustained national effort rather than a temporary campaign.

“Fighting antisemitism is a 24/7 commitment,” Terrell said.

“I am there for you, the Justice Department is there for you, and President Trump is there for you.”

Although additional operational details regarding the 14-city initiative have not yet been publicly released, Terrell indicated that the program will involve direct engagement with local jurisdictions where concerns about antisemitism have emerged.

His comments reflected a broader emphasis by the Justice Department on using existing civil rights statutes to address discrimination against Jewish Americans.

Federal officials have increasingly focused on allegations involving universities, K-12 schools, municipalities, and public institutions where Jewish students and community members have reported discrimination, intimidation, or unequal treatment.

Address Delivered Ahead of Annual Washington Mission

Terrell spoke during a gathering of delegates participating in the Zionist Organization of America’s annual Washington advocacy mission.

Each year, ZOA members travel to the nation’s capital to meet with members of Congress, administration officials, and policymakers to discuss issues affecting Israel, United States foreign policy, and the security of Jewish communities.

Founded in 1897, the Zionist Organization of America is the oldest pro-Israel organization in the United States.

The organization advocates for strong United States-Israel relations, promotes public education on issues affecting Israel, and works to combat anti-Israel bias in the media, educational institutions, and public discourse.

ZOA National President Morton A. Klein praised Terrell’s commitment to confronting antisemitism and thanked him for addressing delegates before the advocacy meetings on Capitol Hill.

“Leo Terrell will go down in history as the best friend of the Jewish people,” Klein said.

“We were honored to have him join us tonight and bring his important message to us on the eve of our Washington Mission.”

Rising Antisemitism Remains a National Concern

The announcement comes amid continuing concern over antisemitism throughout the United States.

Jewish organizations, including the Zionist Organization of America, have repeatedly called for stronger enforcement of existing laws protecting Jewish students, employees, religious institutions, and community organizations.

Federal agencies have also increased investigations involving allegations of discrimination on university campuses and violations of civil rights protections.

The Justice Department’s Task Force on Antisemitism was established to coordinate federal efforts addressing antisemitic discrimination and ensure consistent enforcement of federal civil rights laws.

Supporters argue that greater federal involvement is necessary because responses to antisemitic incidents often vary significantly between local jurisdictions.

Terrell suggested that inconsistent local enforcement has contributed to the continued growth of antisemitism in some communities.

His remarks reflected growing frustration among many Jewish organizations that criminal conduct targeting Jewish Americans is not always prosecuted with the same urgency as other hate-motivated offenses.

Looking Ahead

While specific cities included in the initiative have not yet been announced, the Justice Department’s new enforcement campaign signals an expansion of federal efforts to address antisemitism at the local level.

The initiative is expected to involve collaboration with federal prosecutors, civil rights officials, and local authorities, and to examine whether existing laws are being fully enforced.

For delegates attending the ZOA’s annual Washington Mission, Terrell’s announcement underscored the growing role of the federal government in addressing one of the most significant challenges confronting Jewish communities today.

As antisemitism continues to affect Jewish institutions, schools, synagogues, and communities across the United States, organizers said stronger enforcement of existing laws remains a central priority for protecting the civil rights and security of Jewish Americans.

This article was originally published by TheJ.Ca and can be viewed here.