Jewish Activists to Protest Schumer’s Book Launch, Accusing Him of Hypocrisy on Anti-Semitism

Edited by: Fern Sidman

Jewish activists are planning a pointed demonstration outside Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer’s upcoming book launch in Manhattan, accusing the veteran Democratic lawmaker of failing to take meaningful action against rising anti-Semitism in America despite his elevated public rhetoric on the issue. The protest, set to take place Tuesday, coincides with the release of Schumer’s new book Anti-Semitism in America: A Warning, but for many in the Jewish community, the title itself speaks volumes about what they see as a profound contradiction between Schumer’s words and his actions.

As was reported by VIN News, the protest’s objective is to call out Schumer’s political “double-speak” and a track record of inaction when it comes to the protection of Jewish civil rights in the United States. The event, which is expected to draw a vocal crowd, comes at a time of heightened concern over anti-Semitism on American college campuses, in political discourse, and in public demonstrations nationwide.

Among the protest’s most outspoken organizers is Jewish activist Aliza Licht, who offered a scathing assessment of Schumer ahead of the event. “The only thing Chuck Schumer knows about anti-Semitism is how to spread it,” Licht said, according to the VIN News report.

Licht and other activists argue that while Schumer has branded himself as a fierce defender of the Jewish people—referring to himself as the “shomer of the Jews” (guardian of the Jews)—his legislative and political record tells a different story. VIN News reported that chief among their concerns is Schumer’s failure to ensure the passage of the Anti-Semitism Awareness Act, a bill designed to strengthen protections against anti-Semitic discrimination by requiring the U.S. Department of Education to adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s (IHRA) working definition of anti-Semitism in civil rights investigations.

Activists are especially frustrated by Schumer’s inability to move the legislation forward, despite its importance and bipartisan support. The report in VIN News indicated that the bill has become mired in procedural disagreements between Schumer and House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.). Schumer had reportedly attempted to attach the measure to a broader defense spending package, a move that drew pushback from Johnson, who instead advocated for a standalone vote.

While the legislation has since been reintroduced by Senators Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.) and Tim Scott (R-SC), Jewish advocacy groups say Schumer’s maneuvering diluted the urgency of the issue and allowed political wrangling to take precedence over substantive protections for Jewish students and communities facing harassment and discrimination.

Licht, echoing the sentiments of many disillusioned activists, told VIN News, “The Jewish community will not allow Schumer to masquerade as the self-proclaimed ‘shomer of the Jews’ when he has fueled anti-Semitism in America with his double-speak and failure to protect Jewish civil rights.”

This protest marks a significant shift in tone for Jewish critics of Schumer, who has long leaned on his Jewish identity and heritage as part of his political brand. But according to activists, the gap between symbolism and substance has grown untenably wide.

Further fueling activists’ discontent is Schumer’s handling of the controversy surrounding Mahmoud Khalil, an anti-Israel activist who played a prominent role in last year’s campus demonstrations at Columbia University, which many viewed as overtly anti-Semitic. VIN News reported that while the Trump administration had initiated efforts to deport Khalil, citing national security concerns, Schumer raised objections and demanded legal justification for the detention—prompting outrage from Jewish groups.

Schumer later posted a public statement on X (formerly Twitter), writing: “I abhor many of the opinions and policies that Mahmoud Khalil holds and supports, and have made my criticism of the anti-Semitic actions at Columbia loudly known,” the VIN News report said. Still, Schumer insisted that deportation in the absence of a clear criminal offense would constitute a violation of Khalil’s First Amendment rights.

This position has further alienated Jewish critics who see Schumer’s defense of free speech in this context as a dangerous concession that enables anti-Semitic incitement under the guise of constitutional protection.

The contradiction between Schumer’s published warnings about anti-Semitism and his legislative failures has become the central message of the upcoming protest. “If Schumer truly cared about fighting anti-Semitism, he wouldn’t just write about it—he’d do something about it,” one activist involved in the demonstration told VIN News.

The protestors argue that the stakes are too high for performative gestures. They point to record-setting surges in anti-Semitic incidents across the United States, including verbal abuse, threats, vandalism, and physical attacks targeting Jewish individuals and institutions. In their view, real leadership requires legislative backbone—not book tours and public relations campaigns.

Despite repeated inquiries from the media, Schumer’s office has not responded to requests for comment, according to VIN News. The silence has only added to the sense of frustration among activists who believe that the Senator is more concerned with protecting his public image than addressing the systemic rise in anti-Semitic threats.

As Schumer takes the stage in Manhattan to promote his new book, he may be met not only with applause, but with chants of protest from those who once saw him as a protector of Jewish interests—and who now believe he has betrayed that trust.