University of Michigan Jewish Student Assaulted in Hate Crime, Police Investigate

University of Michigan Jewish student brutally attacked

In an unsettling incident on Sunday, a 19-year-old Jewish student at the University of Michigan (UoM) was reportedly assaulted by a group after disclosing his religious identity. The student was allegedly knocked to the ground, kicked, and spat on by a group of males, an assault that witnesses say was bias-motivated.

Police investigating

The incident reportedly took place around 12:45 am on Hill Street and S. Forest, and the Ann Arbor Police Department (AAPD) has since confirmed that they are actively investigating. According to the student’s statement provided to the AAPD, he was walking when a group of individuals confronted him, asking if he was Jewish. Post his confirmation, the group allegedly assaulted him before fleeing the scene.

“There is absolutely no place for hate or ethnic intimidation in our city,” affirmed AAPD Police Chief Andre C. Anderson who is in active communication with the UoM police (UMPD) and the ADL over this disconcerting incident. Chief Anderson reassured that “Our department stands against antisemitism.”

University and community reaction

Rabbi Davey Rosen, the director of UoM Hillel, expressed his concern and confirmed that, through Hillel’s partnership with Jewish Community Security Inc, they are maintaining regular communication with state and federal law enforcement agencies. UoM President Santa Ono also shared his condolences and affirmed that the university stands firm against antisemitism and all bias-motivated behavior. “Safety of our campus community is our highest priority,” he maintained.

The Anti-defamation League (ADL) is taking this incident very seriously and has announced a $5,000 reward to anyone providing information that leads to an arrest or conviction of the suspects involved. “There is no place for antisemitism or bigotry on our streets or on our campuses,” emphasized Jonathan Greenblatt, CEO of the ADL.

Jewish Students at Michigan

Approximately 14% of the student body at Michigan, numbering around 6,500, identifies as Jewish, of which 5,000 are undergrads and 1,500 are graduate students as per details on the UoM Hillel’s website.

Previous incidents at UoM

The University of Michigan has faced past criticism over its handling of antisemitic incidents. The Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights conducted investigations on several occasions, finding the university in violation of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. In fact, of the 75 complaints of harassment investigated by the OCR, many which targeted Jewish students, few were satisfactorily addressed by the university. Instances included campus protests over the Israel-Hamas war and the university’s dismissal of a Jewish student’s request for conflict resolution after being harassed on social media by a graduate student instructor.