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Leo Terrell takes Trump administration’s antisemitism fight nationwide on 15-city tour
Justice Department Antisemitism Task Force chairman Leo Terrell is leading a 15-city tour to meet Jewish communities and connect them with federal support. He says the initiative responds to concerns that local authorities have not adequately addressed antisemitism, and aims to tackle threats in schools, workplaces and religious settings.
The “American Tour Against Hate” began in Michigan on 14 October, with representatives from the Justice Department, FBI and Labor Department attending events. Terrell cited Los Angeles, Boston, San Francisco, New York and Detroit as cities where he said hate crimes had gone unprosecuted, without naming cases. FBI data cited in the article recorded 1,528 single-bias anti-Jewish hate-crime incidents in 2025; anti-Jewish bias accounted for 62.4% of victims of religious-bias hate crimes.
In short
- Leo Terrell is taking an antisemitism-focused tour to 15 cities.
- The tour links Jewish communities with federal agencies and support.
- FBI data recorded 1,528 anti-Jewish hate-crime incidents in 2025.
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The case for
A nationwide tour could help Jewish communities report antisemitism, understand federal support and make clear that threats in schools, workplaces and religious settings are being taken seriously. Given the reported scale of anti-Jewish hate-crime incidents, advocates may argue that direct engagement is warranted, especially where residents feel local authorities have not responded adequately.
The case against
A government-led tour framed around alleged local failures risks politicising law enforcement and undermining trust in local authorities, particularly when the accusations are not tied to named cases. Critics may also question whether a high-profile tour will improve prevention or prosecution, and argue that federal involvement should be guided by transparent evidence and clear measures of impact.
Explained simply
Antisemitism means hostility or prejudice towards Jewish people. It can include threats, harassment and violence, as well as discrimination in places such as schools, workplaces and religious settings.
The Justice Department is a US government department responsible for enforcing federal law, and the FBI investigates federal crimes. Leo Terrell chairs its Antisemitism Task Force, which brings together federal agencies to address antisemitism and connect communities with government support.
The tour takes place amid concern about anti-Jewish hate crimes in the United States. Federal figures cited in the report show that these incidents made up a large share of hate crimes motivated by religious bias; questions about how local authorities respond have also drawn attention to the roles of local and federal agencies.