Masked anti-Israel protesters staged a disturbing demonstration at the private residence of University of Michigan regent Jordan Acker, demanding that he defend the police. The incident occurred early Wednesday morning while Acker’s wife and children were sleeping inside, leaving the family shaken but unharmed.
According to Acker’s post on social media, the protesters arrived with a list of demands and placed tents and fake corpses wrapped in bloodied sheets on the lawn. More than 30 student protesters targeted the private residences of at least one Board of Regents member and several others, chanting and marching in the early morning hours.
The University of Michigan confirmed that the protesters, who concealed their identities with masks, were affiliated with student groups such as Jewish Voice for Peace and Students Allied for Freedom and Equality. These groups have been responsible for organizing anti-Israel demonstrations on campus, including an encampment on the university’s Central Campus Diag.
Acker condemned the protesters’ actions as intimidating and unacceptable, emphasizing that public officials should not be subjected to such behavior. The university also denounced the tactics employed by the protesters as a dangerous escalation in anti-Israel protests on campus.
The incident comes amid ongoing tensions at the University of Michigan over demands for divestment from companies invested in Israel. The school has faced vandalism and clashes with protesters, who claim that a significant portion of the university’s endowment is tied to Israel, a claim the school denies.
While the university respects the free speech rights of students, officials emphasized that targeting individuals’ private residences is illegal trespassing and not protected speech. Acker vowed not to be intimidated by the protesters, calling for an end to such behavior in any free society.
The anti-Israel encampment remains on campus, and it is unclear whether police will be called to remove the tents. The University of Michigan did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the situation.
