14 | OCTOBER 17 • 2024 J
N

O

n the one-year anniver-
sary of the Oct. 7 ter-
rorist attacks on Israel, 
the Jewish Federation of Detroit 
building on Telegraph Road in 
Bloomfield Township was vandal-
ized with anti-Israel and pro-Pales-
tinian graffiti. 
On the front doors of the 
building, “Free Palestine” was 
spray-painted in bright red. The 
word “Intifada” was written on the 
windows and ground near the front 
entrance, along crude obscenities 
aimed at Israel. 
Bloomfield Township police 
responded to the incident and are 
investigating. 
Federation immediately released 

a statement, calling the vandalism 
a cowardly act that “will not deter 
us from our vital mission to sup-
port the people of Israel, combat 
antisemitism, and foster a 
strong Jewish future.”
David Kurzmann, 
Federation’s senior direc-
tor of community affairs 
and Federation’s liaison 
to Jewish Community 
Security Inc., says securi-
ty camera footage shows 
vandals tagging the build-
ing at about 4:15 a.m. 
He says it’s the third 
time the building’s been targeted 
with vandalism in the past year.
“Obviously, it comes on a day 

when we’re already in a state 
of mourning and sadness,” 
Kurzmann said. “This is disturb-
ing. And I think it’s just a coward-
ly act directed against not just a 
place where people come to work 
and serve the community, but 
really the heart of the community. 
“I think it’s very intentional, it’s 
malicious in that way. That said, 
we’re not going to be deterred, 
and we will continue to pursue the 
mission here — of taking care of 
the needs of the community and 
building a vibrant Jewish future.”
Kurzmann said they’ve 
been in touch with 
Bloomfield Township 
police, and the FBI is also 
involved. 
“Beyond that, we are 
just grateful for their 
partnership and support. 
They responded promptly 
and professionally, as they 
always do.” 
This incident happened 
just two days after hundreds of 
antisemitic flyers were distributed 
onto properties in West Bloomfield, 

Farmington Hills and other com-
munities across Metro Detroit — in 
close proximity to the Oct. 7 anni-
versary and Rosh Hashanah. 
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer stat-
ed, “The antisemitic graffiti on 
the headquarters of the Jewish 
Federation of Detroit is cruel and 
abhorrent. On the one-year anni-
versary of the Oct. 7 attack, we 
must continue rising above actions 
that aim to divide us and instill fear 
in our communities.”
On social media, State Sen. 
Mallory McMorrow condemned the 
vandalism. 
“To be very clear, taking out 
anger or frustrations on the war 
in the Middle East on American 
Jews is antisemitic and disgrace-
ful. These are our neighbors. 
These are Michiganders. These are 
Americans.”
Oakland County Executive David 
Coulter also responded.
“The cancer of hate has been 
politicized and normalized. Our 
commitment to tolerance and free-
dom must be a force exponentially 
more powerful.” 

Police Investigate 
Vandalism at Federation

OUR COMMUNITY

It’s the third time the building’s been targeted 
in the past year.

DANNY SCHWARTZ SENIOR STAFF REPORTER

David Kurzmann

O

n Monday, Oct. 7, 
Southfield Police Chief 
Elvin Barren, in a press 
conference, announced the arrest of 
18-year-old Bryson Bijon Trice of 
Southfield in connection with the 
Oct. 2 home invasion of the home 
of Rabbi Mendy and Gitty Klahr 
as they hosted about 20 University 
of Michigan students on the first 
night of Rosh Hashanah. Trice has 
been charged with armed robbery 
and first-degree home invasion. A 
$750,000 bond has been set for bail, 
and his next court date is Oct. 21. 
Barren commended the swift 
work of his police team as well as 
law enforcement in surrounding 
municipalities and reiterated that 
at this point in the investigation, 

there seemed to be no evidence that 
this was a hate crime or that this 
incident was antisemitic in nature. 
“The evidence does not lead us 
to any direct antisemitism, but the 
investigation continues,” Barren 
said.
Deputy Chief Aaron Huguley, 
who also serves as Southfield 
Police information officer, said 
he was grateful for the help and 
the presence of Michigan Anti-
Defamation League Director 
Carolyn Normandin and recognizes 
why this was so deeply disturbing to 
the Jewish community. 
“This incident sparked a lot 
of concern for our community, 
particularly our Jewish community, 
due to all the national antisemitic 

acts that are occurring lately,” 
Huguley said. “Our investigation 
continues and additional charges 
may be pending. Things could 
change but right now, the evidence 
does not lead us to any direct 
antisemitism.”
Giving a detailed timeline 
account of how the arrest was 
made, he said that Trice fled to the 
home of a female friend, who, when 
questioned by the police, gave them 
a false account of the timing of his 
whereabouts. The female friend is 
also in custody and charged with 
obstruction of justice. 
Normandin said although this 
has not been deemed a hate crime, 
it did no less than rattle the entire 
Jewish community already on high 

alert in the days leading up to the 
first anniversary of Oct. 7 and 
the High Holidays. Normandin 
commended the professionalism 
of the entire staff of the Southfield 
Police Department. 
“Today is a very somber and 
emotional day,” Normandin said. 
“This particular incident happening 
on the Jewish New Year brought 
very, very heightened levels of 
anxiety to the Jewish community 
because of the proximity to the 
Jewish holidays and also to Oct. 
7. There have been an extreme 
number of unprovoked attacks 
against American Jews in this 
country, and that’s why the chief 
took such great pains to get a 
suspect in custody.” 

Home Invasion Suspect Arrested

STACY GITTLEMAN CONTRIBUTING WRITER

