A

19-year-old University of
Michigan student was assault-
ed by a group of still at-large
individuals early Sept. 15 when he told
them he was Jewish.
According to the Ann Arbor Police,
the male victim was at the corner of
Hill Street and South Forest around
12:45 a.m. He was walking when a
group of unknown males behind him
asked if he was Jewish. When the
victim replied yes, the group of males
physically and verbally assaulted him.
The suspects fled the area on foot.
University of Michigan security,
Ann Arbor police and FBI officials are
investigating.
Anyone with information about this
incident is encouraged to contact the
Ann Arbor Police Department at (734)
794-6939 or tips@a2gov.org.
AA Chief of Police Andre Anderson
released the following statement that
evening:

“I have communicat-
ed with the University
of Michigan police staff,
and our goal is to discuss
safety over the next few
weeks. There is absolutely
no place for hate or ethnic
intimidation in the city of
Ann Arbor. Our depart-
ment stands against antisemitism and
all acts of bias-motivated crimes. We
are committed to vigorously investigat-
ing this and other hate-motivated inci-
dents and will work with the County
Prosecutor’s office to aggressively pros-
ecute those who are responsible.
”
In a statement released Sept. 15 on
X, University of Michigan
President Santa Ono said:
“The safety of our
campus community is our
highest priority. We are
working closely with the
Ann Arbor police depart-

ment as they
investigate the
assault which
occurred this
morning. We
urge anyone
with knowl-
edge about
the incident
to share it
with DPSS or
the Ann Arbor police department. In
turn, we will ask that perpetrators be
held accountable for their actions. We
stand firmly against antisemitism and
all bias-motivated behavior. We are
committed to creating a community
where every student, faculty member,
staff member or visitor can thrive with-
out the fear of threats, intimidation or
violence.
”
Hillel and the Jewish Resource
Center released similar statements on
social media that they had been in

touch with law enforce-
ment departments at the University of
Michigan and Ann Arbor as well as the
student and his family. They and the
Ann Arbor Police report that the stu-
dent was not seriously injured and did
not require hospitalization.
In a statement released as an email
to Hillel constituents and a public post
on social media, Hillel Chief Executive
Officer Rabbi Davey Rosen said:
“The Ann Arbor Chief of Police
called me today and assured me that

19-year-old student was assaulted by a
group of still at-large individuals.

Jewish U-M
Student Attacked

STACY GITTLEMAN CONTRIBUTING WRITER

OUR COMMUNITY

Many in the Detroit Metro Jewish
community learned of the attack
on Sunday afternoon. Incidentally,
#EndJewHatred organized a rally
that afternoon in West Bloomfield
to remember the six hostages who
had been murdered by Hamas
earlier in the month as well as to
show strong support for Jewish
college students as they began
the new school year.
Rally participants learned about
#EndJewHatred’s “Unmask the
Hate” initiative, which calls on local
governments to pass ordinances
that state that those wishing to
participate in pro-Palestinian and
anti-Israel protests are within their

First Amendment rights; however,
free speech rights do not include
hiding one’s identities with masks
to bully, harass, intimidate and
commit crimes as seen in dozens
of incidents at campus protests
across the country since Oct.

7. Such an ordinance passed in
August 2024 in Nassau County,
N.Y.
Benji Rosenzweig, 42, of West
Bloomfield, spoke at the rally when
he received an alert of the attack
in Ann Arbor on his phone.

Chief
Andre
Anderson

Santa Ono

#EndJewHatred Rally

Supporters came to the #EndJewHatred Rally in West Bloomfield.

Those at the
rally learned
about the
“Unmask the
Hate” initiative.

The Ann
Arbor Police
issued this
message

14 | SEPTEMBER 26 • 2024
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