Photo: Bill Laytner ~ USA TODAY NETWORK
SOUTHFIELD, MI, June 4, 2024 ~ Tensions continue to rise between University of Michigan officials and pro-Palestinian activists, with two recent protests targeting university admins.
On Sunday, student activists organized a protest outside the home of University President Santa Ono, criticizing how he handled the police raid that broke up a Gaza solidarity encampment on May 21. The following day, Goodman Acker, the law firm co-owned by university regent Jordan Acker, was graffitied with pro-Palestinian messages such as “Free Palestine,” “UM Kills,” and “Divest Now,” referring to calls for the university to divest from companies that support Israel. Red paint symbolizing blood was also splashed across the building, referring to the Israeli bombardment of Gaza that has killed over 36,000 Palestinians.
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June 3, 2024 ~ Some students who participated in pro-Palestinian protests on college campuses are now facing the fact the actions may have cost them their degrees, at least for a while. WJR Senior News Analyst Marie Osborne talks with Guy Gordon and Jamie Edmonds about how the students’ uncertain graduation status.
June 3, 2024 ~ Chris Renwick and Jordan Acker discuss recent vandalism at Acker’s law offices, and when they think protests cross the line into criminal acts.
(CONTINUED) At a press conference, Acker said, “Make no mistake, that targeting individual Jewish elected officials is antisemitism,” though other regents have faced protests from student activists, including a recent protest outside the home of regent Sarah Hubbard. In a joint Instagram post from the Tahrir Coalition and Jewish Voice For Peace at the University of Michigan student groups, they applauded the graffiti, rejected that the action was antisemitic, and said, “These escalations pale in comparison to the escalation of military aggression and massacres committed by the Israeli war machine.“
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