Michigan University Regents Reel After Vicious Anti-Israel Attacks
Administrators and board members have been targeted at their private residences by protesters demanding divestment from Israel-related investments.
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University of Michigan officials have been provided with round-the-clock security protection following a series of incidents at their private homes by protesters demanding the university divest from Israel-related investments.
The escalation from campus demonstrations to targeting administrators' families at their residences has prompted university leadership to take enhanced security measures, according to multiple regents who spoke to the Detroit News.
Escalating Incidents
The most severe incident occurred at the home of Regent Jordan Acker, where vandals threw mason jars filled with urine through his front window at 2 a.m. while his three young daughters slept upstairs in December, as reported by Jewish Breaking News.
"It's been really hard on my wife. It's been really, really hard on my kids, especially my 10-year-old, who was woken up by the glass breaking," Acker said.
The attack shattered glass throughout the home and included spray-painting his wife's car with "divest" and "free Palestine" alongside an upside-down triangle symbol. Both family vehicles were damaged in the incident. Previous harassment at Acker's residence included masked protesters arriving at dawn with lists of demands, while his Southfield law office was vandalized with messages calling him out by name.
Other university officials have faced similar residential targeting. President Santa Ono's home was spray-painted with "intifada" and "coward" in October, while Provost Laurie McCauley had her bedroom window smashed and residence graffitied in March.
Regent Sarah Hubbard discovered approximately 30 protesters had erected tents on her front lawn and used bullhorns to disrupt her neighborhood at 6 a.m. The demonstration included fake body bags and "bloodied" stuffed animals left at her residence.
Security Concerns
"Nobody should ever encounter a masked and hooded man on the front porch of their home in the early morning making demands that the university divest from Israel and defund the police," said Regent Mark Bernstein, whose home was also targeted.
The sustained pressure campaign has focused on demands for divestment from Israel, though board members note the university maintains no direct investments in Israel and holds less than $15 million in funds that might include Israeli companies, representing less than 0.1% of the total endowment.
Police investigations into the various incidents remain ongoing. The university has not disclosed specific details about the security measures now in place to protect its officials and their families.