18 | JUNE 13 • 2024
J
N
anywhere.”
Southfield Police Chief
Elvin Barren provided further
details. The Southfield Police
Department is working with
the FBI, the University of
Michigan Police Department
and Huntington Woods police at
this time.
Chief Barren said the pre-
liminary investigation revealed
that on June 3 at 1:39 a.m., four
individuals were captured on
surveillance video approach-
ing from the east side of the
Goodman Acker building. One
acted as a lookout, while the
other three performed the van-
dalism. The suspects departed at
1:46 a.m. They were on the scene
for approximately seven minutes.
Police are collecting video
evidence from the Goodman
Acker facility as well as footage
from across the entire area to
determine additional suspects,
vehicles, license plates, etc.
“We are asking the commu-
nity: If you see something, say
something,” Chief Barren said.
In the day following the van-
dalism, the TAHRIR Coalition,
the student coalition that is the
main block of U-M’s central
student government, lauded the
vandalism of Acker’s law office
on social media.
‘A DIFFICULT MOMENT’
Jordan Acker spoke passionately
at the press conference, saying
this was “an enormously difficult
moment for me, personally, and
for this entire community.”
“Make no mistake — target-
ing individual Jewish elected
officials is antisemitism,” Acker
said. “This has nothing to do
with Palestine or the war in
Gaza or anything else. This is
done as a message to scare Jews.
I am deeply grateful for all of the
support I’ve received from across
the political spectrum today … I
really appreciate it.
“It is not acceptable. It is
not OK. My dad helped found
this business. And for 30-plus
years, we’ve worked to help
Michiganders, regardless of their
race, religion or creed. Remember,
this is a business that is owned
by Jews, Muslims and Christians.
This is an attack on who we are as
a Michigan community.
“This action is the exact type
of action that occurred on Jewish
businesses in Germany and
Russia and other countries with
severe antisemitism problems,”
Acker continued. “Before this
becomes a problem that we can’t
help, we must stamp it out now.
“I was not targeted today
because I am a regent. I am
targeted for this because I am
Jewish. This neighborhood is
Jewish. This is a significant esca-
lation. Going to my colleagues’
homes, all of us, is unaccept-
able and dangerous. Singling
out a Jewish board member is
antisemitism, pure and simple.”
State Sen. Jeremy Moss
(D-Southfield), the only Jewish
member of the Michigan Senate,
also spoke at the press conferenc.
“This is antisemitism,” Moss
said. “Those who have watched
in disgust as these
scenes have played
out but have not
found the words yet
to condemn it, must
join us in speaking
out. These threats no
longer just impact
student encamp-
ments. They now impact Jewish
homes, Jewish neighborhoods
and Jewish businesses.
“But what the antisemitic
vandals might not know is how
strong the Southfield community
is and how we value our racial,
religious and ethnic diversity,”
he continued. “
And this showing
of our officials and community
members demonstrates that hate
will have no home here.”
U-M Regent Mark
Bernstein attended.
“Jordan is a dear
friend. Our firms have
worked with each
other for decades.
This is a terrible,
dangerous escalation.
It’s intolerable. It’s repugnant.
It demands condemnation,”
Bernstein said. “I’m here to
show support and solidarity for
a friend, a colleague and a com-
munity that doesn’t deserve this.”
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer also
released a statement:
“Michigan has been a place
where people from all back-
grounds, religions and cultures
have lived together peacefully for
decades. Violence, vandalism,
threats and intimidation are
unacceptable, and what we saw
today in Southfield is abhorrent.
“We must remain united in
calling out hatred of any kind
and continue working together
toward peace in Michigan.”
Police in Southfield are
offering a cash reward for infor-
mation leading to an arrest.
Call 1-800-SPEAK-UP or the
Southfield Police Department at
(248) 796-5500.
The Goodman Acker Law Firm building in Southfield was defaced by
antisemitic graffiti on June 3.
State Sen.
Jeremy
Moss
Mark
Bernstein
OUR COMMUNITY
continued from page 16