Executive Order 51

May 13, 2025

Download Executive Order 51

MAYOR’S OFFICE TO COMBAT ANTISEMITISM

WHEREAS, the City of New York is home to the largest Jewish community outside of Israel, whose members are integral to the social and economic vitality of the City; and

WHEREAS, in recent years, particularly in the wake of the October 7, 2023 attack on Israel and the resulting conflict, there has been a rise in antisemitism and crimes directed at the Jewish community globally and within the City of New York; and

WHEREAS, the New York City Police Department reports that anti-Jewish crimes accounted for 54% of all hate crimes reported in the City of New York in calendar year 2024; and

WHEREAS, the New York City Human Rights Law prohibits discrimination against individuals based on their actual or perceived religion or creed and the New York City Commission on Human Rights enforces the Human Rights Law and carries out training and community outreach to combat hate and bias; and

WHEREAS, the New York City Police Department’s Hate Crime Task Force is a citywide unit responsible for investigating hate crimes and bias incidents, which include antisemitic crimes and incidents; and

WHEREAS, the Office for the Prevention of Hate Crimes (OPHC), established in section 20-g of the Charter of the City of New York, in response to an escalation of hate crimes, is designed to take a holistic approach to preventing hate crimes, develop and coordinate community-driven prevention strategies to address biases fueling such crimes, and foster healing for victims and their communities; and

WHEREAS, it is a significant priority of the City of New York and in the best interest of all New Yorkers to combat antisemitism and to encourage dialogue and harmony among diverse communities across the City; and

NOW, THEREFORE, by the power vested in me as Mayor of the City of New York, it is hereby ordered:

Section 1.  There is established a Mayor’s Office to Combat Antisemitism.  Such office shall be headed by an executive director appointed by the Mayor. The Office shall identify and develop efforts to eliminate antisemitism and anti-Jewish hate crime using the existing resources of the City of New York.  In performing its functions pursuant to this Order, the Office shall coordinate as necessary and appropriate with the Office for the Prevention of Hate Crimes (“OPHC”).

2. The Executive Director shall establish an Interagency Task Force to Combat Antisemitism composed of representatives of the OPHC, New York City Police Department, New York City Commission on Human Rights, and other City agencies identified by the Mayor. The Task Force will develop recommendations for agency-specific approaches to combatting antisemitism.  The Office will also monitor court cases and outcomes at all levels of the justice system, liaise with the New York City Law Department on appropriate cases to bring or join, and work across agencies to address incidents and ensure New Yorkers feel protected.

3. The Office shall identify and develop efforts to eliminate antisemitism and anti-Jewish hate crime; coordinate non-law enforcement responses to incidents of antisemitism on behalf of the Office of the Mayor; and serve as a liaison with the Jewish community to address issues related to services for victims of hate crimes and bias incidents motivated by antisemitism, and security for vulnerable populations and institutions.

4. The Office shall liaise with the District Attorneys and law enforcement agencies to evaluate and improve reporting of antisemitism, hate crimes, and bias incidents, and establish a process to monitor such incidents.

5. The Office shall encourage greater dialogue between the Jewish community and local law enforcement agencies.

6. The Office shall regularly make recommendations to the Mayor in relation to, but not limited to, the following priorities:

1. Public education efforts aimed at combatting antisemitism;
2. Tracking of criminal and civil enforcement matters related to antisemitic hate crimes and bias incidents;
3. Reviewing curricula and agency communications for bias; and
4. Development of policies and initiatives to combat antisemitism.

7. This Order shall take effect immediately.

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Eric Adams
Mayor