Leo Terrell, chairman of the Justice Department's task force to combat antisemitism, is conducting a 15-city national tour aimed at directly engaging Jewish communities and addressing concerns about rising antisemitism. The initiative, dubbed the "American Tour Against Hate," began on October 14 in Michigan.
Terrell stated that the tour's purpose is to directly address the needs of communities experiencing threats in schools, workplaces, and places of worship, and to provide them with federal support. He highlighted instances where local leaders have allegedly failed to respond adequately to antisemitic incidents. The tour brings together officials from the Justice Department, FBI, and Labor Department to meet with Jewish residents, students, educators, and religious leaders.
"Antisemitism is now and we have to come up with solutions for the future," Terrell told Fox News Digital. He noted that the FBI has been present at tour meetings in cities where hate crimes have allegedly gone unprosecuted, including Los Angeles, Boston, San Francisco, New York, and Detroit. However, he did not specify individual cases.
According to FBI data from 2025, law enforcement agencies reported 1,528 single-bias anti-Jewish hate-crime incidents. The data also indicated that 62.4% of victims of religious-bias hate crimes were targeted due to anti-Jewish bias, underscoring the disproportionate targeting of Jewish individuals.
Terrell described the protection of Jewish students and religious communities as a "24-7 obligation." He also criticized the financial burden placed on Jewish institutions for security, referring to it as a "Jewish tax."
Universities are a significant focus of Terrell's efforts. He warned university presidents that federal scrutiny would continue if Jewish students are not adequately protected, emphasizing that potential violations will not be overlooked regardless of administrative changes. "All these campus presidents are on notice," he said. "I think they’re trying to wait out President Trump. It’s not gonna happen."
Terrell suggested that overseas influence and funding may play a role in the rise of antisemitism on campuses, potentially affecting administrations and faculty. He indicated that investigations into foreign funding and organizational coordination are underway as part of the effort to combat these issues.
The tour also includes outreach to non-Jewish communities, with Terrell speaking to over 200 students at the Christian Leaders Summit Forum in Lynchburg, Virginia. He stressed that the fight against antisemitism is an American and Western civilization issue, not solely a Jewish one, and urged broader participation. "Religious freedom must be available to all Americans," he stated.
Terrell encouraged Jewish Americans who feel abandoned to contact his office or the Department of Justice for assistance, vowing to provide help without refusal. The tour's itinerary includes public events followed by visits to synagogues, Jewish schools, and community centers in each of the 15 cities.