The Rise in Antisemitism Leads to Rapidly Escalating Violence and Terrorism in the U.S.

On May 21, 2025, Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim were murdered in Washington, D.C by an individual driven by hate and convinced that violence was the solution to a political problem. In the immediate aftermath, social media erupted with debates over whether the attack was motivated by antisemitic beliefs or anti-Israeli sentiment. But would the latter make the tragedy any less horrific? It should not.

Just days later, on June 1, 2025, another hate-filled individual in Boulder, Colorado, threw molotov cocktails at demonstrators, setting innocent people on fire—people who were advocating for the release of hostages held by Hamas.

This escalation of violence comes amid a surge in antisemitic sentiment across the United States and the world, based on a foundation of false narratives and terrorist rhetoric that incite hate and even death.

This panel discussion featured Kerri Reiffel, Director of Safety and Security at Hillel International; Amos Guiora, Professor of Law at the University of Utah; and Lara Burns, Head of Terrorism Research at George Washington University’s Program on Extremism. Together, they examined these tragic events, the rise of antisemitism, and the growing calls for violence against Jewish communities in the U.S. The conversation explored how dangerous rhetoric can lead to acts of terror. The event was moderated by David Zimmermann.