AJC Honors San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria for Leadership Against Hate and Extremism

San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria was recognized today by American Jewish Committee (AJC) with the Donald M. Ephraim Global Jewish Advocacy Award.

The Ephraim Award is given to a civic or public-sector leader who has participated in AJC Project Interchange (PI) educational exchange program in Israel and demonstrated a commitment to bridge-building, public service, and combating hate in their communities.

Project Interchange provides key decision-makers and opinion leaders with the opportunity to interact with a broad range of experts and leaders in Israeli society - Jews, Muslims, Christians, Israelis, and Palestinians - as they travel throughout the country.

Mayor Gloria was cited for his longstanding efforts to combat hate, strengthen interfaith understanding, and support communities targeted by discrimination and violence, including San Diego's Jewish community and other marginalized groups.

In his remarks today at AJC Global Forum, Mayor Gloria reflected on the grief and pain felt across San Diego following the May 18 attack by two gunmen at the Islamic Center of San Diego, which left three people dead. He emphasized the importance of rejecting hatred, dehumanization, and violence in all forms while continuing to build understanding across communities and faiths.

"I am honored to receive this award named after a leader who dedicated his life to bringing people together. We must confront antisemitism, Islamophobia, homophobia, racism, and all forms of hate wherever they emerge, and ensure that no community stands alone in the face of violence or discrimination," said Mayor Gloria. "The violent act committed against members of our Muslim community is an attack on all communities and the values that guide us diversity, respect, and shared humanity. This moment serves as a sobering call to action for all leaders, institutions, across the nation and around the world."

As San Diego's first openly gay mayor and first mayor of color, Mayor Gloria has built an extensive record of advocating for all marginalized communities and has consistently emphasized inclusion, representation, and equal access to opportunities across the city while setting an expectation that hate has no home in San Diego.

"Jews and people of all races and faiths in San Diego know they have a friend in City Hall," said AJC San Diego Director Sara E. Brown. "Mayor Gloria's commitment to standing against hate and for all marginalized communities, including the Jewish community, aligns with his lifelong work to foster a more inclusive and just society. He consistently shows up in meaningful ways, not just for the Jewish community, but for all groups facing prejudice."

Mayor Gloria participated in AJC Project Interchange with the U.S. Conference of Mayors. Since 1982, more than 6,400 government officials, educational leaders, and civic and religious leaders, and journalists from 121 countries have been part of PI delegations, gaining firsthand insights into Israel's rich history, diverse culture, and complex challenges.

"As the leader of a multi-cultural city, Mayor Gloria was able to separate the perception of Israel from the reality and see first-hand how its diversity is one of its many strengths," said PI Director Nisha Abkarian.

San Diego has maintained a sister-city relationship for more than 27 years with the Israeli region of Sha'ar HaNegev. Ofir Libshtein, Mayor of Sha'ar HaNegev and a friend of Mayor Gloria, was killed on October 7, 2023, while defending the Kfar Aza kibbutz from Hamas terrorists. He was the first named casualty among the 1,200 murdered that day.

AJC created in 2024 the Ofir Libshtein Bridge Builder Award, which is given to individuals who exemplify Libshtein's dedication to forging closer ties between communities, fostering understanding, and promoting peace. It was given this year posthumously to Sarah Milgrim and Yaron Laschinsky, two Israeli embassy staffers who were gunned down outside an AJC event at the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington just over a year ago.

American Jewish Committee (AJC) is the global advocacy organization for the Jewish people, creating trusted partnerships with leaders around the world to ensure Jews and Israel are safe and thriving. Through 40 offices and dozens of partnerships with Jewish communities worldwide, AJC engages leaders in more than 110 countries, empowering those in government, education, partner communities, and the private sector to counter antisemitism and act as allies. For more, please visit www.ajc.org .