By Madeline Bates
Mail

The Anti-Defamation League has partnered with Arizona State University for the Desert Regional conference, where hundreds of patrons gathered in downtown Tempe for a day of education, reflection and advocacy combating antisemitism.

Speakers included Gov. Katie Hobbs, Tempe Vice Mayor Doreen Garlid and a discussion with ASU President Michael Crow and ADL CEO Johnathan Greenblatt.

“Whether it’s standing up for one another, elected leaders or even speaking out, our institutions are committing themselves to being safe and welcoming spaces for all,” Hobbs said.

Crow and Greenblatt discussed the need to combat extremism and create a safer and more welcoming environment for people from all backgrounds, but especially those who follow the Jewish faith.

Rhetoric in opposition to the nation’s involvement with the Israeli government has created a larger movement of anti-Israel and pro-Palestine protests.

Several protesters holding the Palestine flag and signs condemning the actions of the Israeli government stood outside on the corner of Mill and University outside of the Omni Hotel. They declined to answer questions from the media.

“Just because someone is walking into a Russian Orthodox church doesn’t mean that they’re responsible for the actions of Vladimir Putin, so why would Judaism be any different?” Greenblatt said.

In 2024 and 2025, there were numerous pro-Palestine protests at ASU following the war between Israel and Hamas, a radical organization that occupied the Palestinian government. When protesters occupied campus areas past 11 p.m., ASU Police asked them to leave.

In January 2025, the Trump Administration threatened to withhold funding from 60 colleges and universities across the country if they “failed to protect Jewish students.”

President Crow commended this in a discussion with press at the ADL conference and said that all people need to be protected from hate and that it was the government’s job to protect people from this hate.

Greenblatt also supports this, as the ADL has a Campus Report Card where it graded over 135 schools based on Jewish student life, religious education, disclosed administrative actions and more.

The full report explains how ASU responded to several hate crimes and vandalism messages. Crow says this is to combat hate and bigotry across the board.

“The projection of violence, death, is violence is unacceptable. Words matter and we don’t allow you to project violence or threaten other people for any reason,” Crow said.

To read all of the ADL report cards, visit Campus Antisemitism Report Card | ADL 

To voice your opinion on this story, connect with us at AzOpinions@iniusa.org.

Madeline Bates
Reporter | Tempe/East Phoenix

mbates@iniusa.org

Meet Madeline

Madeline Bates joined Independent Newsmedia in 2025 as a Phoenix/Tempe reporter. Before graduating college, she spent a semester in Washington as a Congressional reporter in the first 100 days of the second Trump administration. But local news is where her heart is. She is excited to be in Phoenix full time and exploring new parts of the city (as long as they have AC).  

Community: After living in East Phoenix for two years, she fell in love with Paradise Valley, Mesa, Tempe, and everywhere in between. She recently discovered the beauty of the South Mountain Reserve and hopes to continue exploring should the weather comply.

Education: Madeline has a degree in Journalism and Mass Communications from Arizona State University’s Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and a certificate in Political History and Leadership.

Random Fact: She is a self-taught nail tech. No, she cannot do your nails.

Hobbies: Hiking (when its not 100 degrees), fiction writing, cooking, baking and trying new coffee shops.