NEW YORK — The Auschwitz Jewish Center Foundation (AJCF) announced it will present its esteemed Fighting Hatred Award to CNN commentator, Emmy winner, and social justice leader Van Jones at its annual gala on June 11 at Chelsea Piers in Manhattan. The award honors Jones for his unwavering commitment to combating antisemitism, fostering tolerance, and bridging divides between communities.
The gala also marks the foundation’s 25 years of combating hatred and antisemitism, as well as the 20th anniversary of its American Service Academies Program (ASAP). ASAP is a 16-day educational initiative for select cadets and midshipmen from the U.S. military academies, focusing on Holocaust education, ethical responsibility, and contemporary moral challenges. Participants engage with Holocaust survivors, historians, and officials in both the United States and Poland.
Earlier this year, Jones led the AJCF-Exodus Delegation to Poland to commemorate the 80th anniversary of Auschwitz-Birkenau’s liberation. The delegation included prominent Black leaders and changemakers such as philanthropist Robert F. Smith, singer Malynda Hale, Grammy® winner Victory Boyd, and others, all of whom will be honored with the AJCF Medal of Valor at the gala.
During the Poland trip, the group explored Jewish history before the Holocaust, visited Auschwitz-Birkenau, Krakow’s historic Jewish Quarter, Schindler’s Factory, and Warsaw’s POLIN Museum and Ghetto memorials. They also met with relatives of hostages currently held in Gaza, showing solidarity amid ongoing suffering.
AJCF Chairman Simon Bergson emphasized the importance of Jones’ leadership amid rising antisemitism and anti-Black hatred. “We need voices like Van’s, people building bridges and championing unity,” Bergson said. “The Holocaust teaches us what happens when hate goes unchecked. Van embodies the kind of leadership we need to ensure those lessons are never forgotten.”
Van Jones has been a powerful force in media, public policy, and social justice for decades. Beyond his role as a CNN contributor, he has championed clean energy, criminal justice reform, and racial inclusion in tech. He was a key figure behind the 2018 FIRST STEP Act, a landmark criminal justice reform law, and served as Special Advisor for Green Jobs in the Obama White House.
In 2021, Jones was among the first recipients of Jeff Bezos’ Courage & Civility Award. He founded the Dream Machine Innovation Lab, which equips multicultural communities to harness artificial intelligence, and the EXODUS Leadership Forum, aimed at renewing the historic Black/Jewish alliance and reducing polarization.
Jones has led numerous successful social enterprises, including REFORM Alliance, Ella Baker Center for Human Rights, Color of Change, Green For All, and Dream.Org. He is also a three-time New York Times best-selling author and Emmy Award-winning producer.
AJCF Director General Jack Simony highlighted Jones’ advocacy against antisemitism and his support for hostages and their families. “The Black and Jewish communities share painful histories of persecution, and also a powerful legacy of resilience. It is critical we continue standing together to fight hate and build a better future. We are proud to have Van Jones as an ally in this mission,” Simony said.
The AJCF gala promises to be a powerful celebration of resilience, unity, and the ongoing fight against hatred in all its forms.
This article is based on verified information from the Auschwitz Jewish Center Foundation’s May 2025 press release and related sources.