Brooke Goldstein Urges Zero Tolerance For Antisemitism At CPAC

DALLAS — Brooke Goldstein, founder and executive director of The Lawfare Project, delivered a message at the Conservative Political Action Conference urging political leaders and activists to reject antisemitism and conspiracy rhetoric within their own ranks.

Goldstein, who spoke during a panel discussion at CPAC in Dallas, said movements that claim to defend freedom and constitutional principles must draw clear boundaries against hate. “A movement that claims to stand for freedom, constitutional integrity, and American sovereignty cannot at the same time provide a platform for those who traffic in Jew-hatred,” she said.

Her remarks focused on what she described as the growing presence of rhetoric targeting Jewish communities, including “Israel firster” accusations and broader conspiracy theories about Jewish influence. Goldstein argued that such ideas are incompatible with democratic values and should not be tolerated in mainstream political discourse.

Framing Antisemitism As A Constitutional Issue

Goldstein framed her argument within the context of American constitutional principles. She said antisemitism undermines the foundational idea that individuals should be judged as citizens rather than stereotypes.

“The American experiment is built on the premise that individual rights are inviolable,” she said. “Antisemitism replaces reason with resentment and truth with propaganda.”

According to Goldstein, allowing such rhetoric to circulate without challenge risks weakening the broader movement’s credibility. She emphasized that confronting antisemitism is not a matter of political preference but of maintaining the integrity of democratic institutions.

“When we allow such voices into our spaces, we are not being inclusive. We are being complicit,” she said.

Panel Discussion On Education And Advocacy

Goldstein participated in a panel moderated by Julie Strauss Levin that addressed concerns about ideological influence within educational institutions. She was joined by Ziporah Reich and Jayne Zirkle, both affiliated with The Lawfare Project.

The discussion examined how narratives related to Israel and Jewish identity are presented in academic environments and the potential implications for public discourse. Organizers described the session as part of a broader effort to raise awareness about antisemitism and related challenges.

Goldstein also highlighted an advertisement presented at the conference, which she said aimed to draw attention to what she described as security and ideological threats facing the United States.

Broader Context Of Political Discourse

Goldstein’s remarks come amid ongoing debates in the United States about the boundaries of free speech and the responsibilities of political movements to address hate within their ranks. Analysts note that tensions have emerged across the political spectrum regarding how to respond to extremist rhetoric while preserving open debate.

Advocacy organizations have increasingly called for clearer standards. Groups such as The Lawfare Project have focused on legal and educational strategies to combat antisemitism, including litigation and public awareness campaigns.

Goldstein said that drawing firm lines is necessary to maintain both moral clarity and political credibility. “Drawing a line is not an act of division. It is an act of clarity,” she said.

She added that patriotism requires confronting uncomfortable realities and rejecting rhetoric that undermines democratic values. “If we are serious about defending the Constitution, then we must be equally serious about defending the dignity and equality it guarantees,” she said.

Call For Accountability

In her closing remarks, Goldstein emphasized that movements that fail to address antisemitism risk undermining their own stated principles. She argued that consistency between values and actions is essential for maintaining public trust.

“A movement that cannot stand against hatred cannot stand at all,” she said.

Observers note that her comments reflect a broader trend among advocacy leaders seeking to elevate antisemitism as a central issue in political and legal discourse. For pro-Israel and Jewish communities, the debate is closely tied to concerns about safety, representation, and the integrity of public dialogue.

As discussions continue, Goldstein’s intervention at CPAC underscores the ongoing challenge of balancing free expression with the need to confront hate speech in democratic societies.