Detroit: Federal prosecutors unsealed an indictment Wednesday, June 10, against eight pro-Palestinian activists who are accused of conspiring to run a criminal intimidation campaign against University of Michigan officials while trying to force the school to cut financial ties to Israel.
The indictment describes threats and vandalism at officials’ homes, some businesses and the Jewish Federation of Detroit.
“In America, we rule by law, not by fear. These alleged threats and attempts to terrorise government officials, businesses, and the Jewish Federation are anti-American. We will counter intimidation with justice,” US Attorney Jerome Gorgon Jr. said.
The document highlights several incidents that made headlines in the past few years, including fake bloody corpses that were placed in an elected university board member’s yard and the spray-painting of anti-Israel messages at the home of the school’s president at the time, Santa Ono.
Two glass jars filled with a blue substance were thrown through a window at the home of the university provost, the government said.
“They marked their victims with threatening symbols used by Hamas, including red inverted triangles and red handprints,” the indictment states. “They used the internet and social media to broadcast their message to ensure their threats and commitment to continuing criminal activity were heard by their victims and others who support Israel.”
All eight are charged with conspiracy to transmit threats through interstate commerce, but some face more charges than others.
Five people made an initial appearance in federal court in Detroit; four of them were ordered to remain in custody at least until another hearing on Friday, June 12.
About two dozen supporters appeared at the courthouse. Some carried Palestinian flags outside, and one had a sign that read, “Drop The Charges.”
“Everything that happened today is a shock,” said Eaman Ali, an organiser with the TAHRIR Coalition, a group of students and Ann Arbour community members that calls for divestment from Israel. “When one of us is targeted, we want to make sure we show up for them.”
Ali declined to comment on the specific allegations.
Since the Israel-Hamas war began, pro-Palestinian protesters have demanded that the University of Michigan end its investment in companies with ties to Israel. But the university has insisted it has no direct investments and less than USD 15 million placed with funds that might include companies in Israel. That’s less than 0.1 per cent of the total endowment.
In 2024, a pro-Palestinian camp on campus was cleared by police after a month. The university said it was a threat to public safety.
Sarah Hubbard, a member of the university’s Board of Regents who found phoney corpses on her lawn in 2024, welcomed the indictment, saying she was “very appreciative of the tireless work” of law enforcement.
Another board member, Jordan Acker, said his home, car and law office were vandalised with paint.
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