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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