No political movement gets a pass on antisemitism

Three years after the October 7 attacks, we must remember the lives stolen by Hamas and confront the hatred that continues to threaten Jewish communities.

Remembering the victims carries a responsibility: to speak clearly when others excuse violence or allow antisemitism to become politically acceptable.

Last November, I visited the Nova Festival site, where people had gathered to celebrate music, friendship and life. Standing there brought the horror painfully close. Every victim had a name, a family and a future.

We also visited Sderot and the site of its destroyed police station. Those places brought home the brutality of the attacks and the courage of those who fought to protect their neighbors. That experience stays with me.

Here in America, the danger remains serious. The Anti-Defamation League recorded 6,274 antisemitic incidents in 2025. Although the overall total declined from 2024, physical assaults increased, reaching the highest level in its records. A decline from extraordinary levels of hatred is hardly a reason for complacency.

I am particularly troubled by how the Democratic Socialists of America has addressed October 7. On the day of the massacre, its national statement described the attacks as a direct consequence of Israel’s policies and declared, “This was not unprovoked.” Although it condemned the killing of civilians, that framing shifted attention toward explaining the violence rather than squarely confronting Hamas’s responsibility. In my view, it gave political cover to those seeking to rationalize an atrocity.

The New York City chapter also promoted a rally immediately after the attacks. It later acknowledged the hurt caused by its message’s timing and tone, apologized for the confusion, and condemned hatred and civilian killings. That acknowledgment mattered. But political organizations must be judged by whether their actions consistently uphold those principles.

Criticizing Israel’s government or advocating for Palestinian rights is legitimate political speech. Excusing the murder of civilians, blaming Jewish neighbors for a foreign government’s decisions, or tolerating intimidation of Jews crosses a clear moral line.

My concern is that antisemitism can gain acceptance when it is packaged in the language of justice and resistance. No movement earns an exemption from scrutiny because it calls itself progressive. DSA leaders and candidates should confront antisemitism within their own ranks openly and unequivocally.

As a Jewish man and an elected official, I will continue to defend every resident’s right to practice their faith openly and safely. Remembrance and education must be matched by the courage to challenge hatred, including when doing so is politically uncomfortable.

On this anniversary, we owe the victims more than solemn words. We owe them a commitment to ensure that hatred is never excused, rewarded or allowed to become ordinary.

Ed Lachterman is Yorktown Town Supervisor.