For Immediate Release:
June 11, 2025
For press inquiries only, contact:
Amanda Priest (334) 322-5694
William Califf (334) 604-3230
(Birmingham, Ala) – Attorney General Steve Marshall today hosted a specialized training session for Alabama law enforcement officers and Federal partners focused on the threats of campus extremism and antisemitism. The event was held in partnership with George Washington University and the Chabad of Alabama, and offered participants fact-based, up-to-date analysis of extremist movements operating in the United States.
“We are witnessing a disturbing surge in violent attacks against Jewish Americans by radical extremists—an unacceptable and growing threat unfolding right here at home. Recent incidents, including the shocking acts of terror in Boulder, Colorado, and Washington, D.C., underscore the urgency of confronting this hatred head-on,” Attorney General Marshall said. “As we work to address antisemitic violence, especially on college campuses, it is critical that we equip Alabama’s law enforcement and campus administrators with every available resource. Today’s training delivered vital information and tools to help local leaders identify and disrupt the key players, tactics, and narratives fueling this dangerous network.”
The first session, titled “Campus Extremism and Hamas in the United States,” was presented by retired FBI Special Agent and terrorism researcher Lara Burns. Using internal Hamas documents and evidence from federal cases, Burns provided a detailed history of Hamas’s activities in the U.S. and highlighted indicators that can be used to identify and counter its influence.
The second session featured David Zimmerman, a retired FBI Supervisory Special Agent and current Senior Research Fellow, who shared first-hand insights from his time serving in Israel during and after the October 7, 2023, terrorist attacks. His presentation offered a rare look into the operational challenges of countering global terrorism and the connections to domestic extremism.
Today’s event is part of Attorney General Marshall’s broader commitment to ensuring Alabama remains a national leader in confronting terrorism, safeguarding civil society, and supporting the Jewish community.
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