{ "id": "2024-09-15-university-of-michigan-ethnic-intimidation-jewish-student", "slug": "university-of-michigan-ethnic-intimidation-jewish-student-2024-09-15", "institution": { "name": "University of Michigan", "shortName": "U-M", "state": "MI", "type": "public-r1", "alertSystemName": "DPSS Security Bulletin", "alertPlatform": "Rave", "enrollment": 52065 }, "incident": { "date": "2024-09-15", "type": "aggravated-assault", "cleryCategory": "advisory", "headline": "Student assaulted after being asked his religion; investigated as ethnic intimidation", "headlinePublic": "Student assaulted after being asked his religion; investigated as ethnic intimidation", "summary": "At approximately 12:30 a.m. EDT on September 15, 2024, a [19-year-old Jewish University of Michigan student was assaulted near S. Forest Avenue and Hill Street](https://www.jta.org/2024/09/16/united-states/u-of-michigan-condemns-assault-of-jewish-student-on-campus) after a group of men asked his religion and he answered. [The Ann Arbor Police Department investigated the attack as a 'bias-motivated assault' and 'ethnic intimidation'](https://www.michigandaily.com/news/news-briefs/aapd-reports-bias-motivated-assault-against-jewish-individual/), and U-M's Division of Public Safety and Security (DPSS) issued a Security Bulletin two days later condemning the attack.", "outcome": "The 19-year-old student suffered minor injuries (bruising and abrasions) and did not require hospitalization. The Mizel Family Foundation pledged $5,000 toward information leading to arrest; an anonymous Michigan donor matched, bringing the reward to $10,000. The Ann Arbor Police Department continued investigating; no public arrest has been announced.", "resolution": "under-investigation", "casualties": { "killed": 0, "injured": 1 } }, "alerts": [ { "sequence": 1, "type": "initial", "timestampApprox": "Posted on or about September 17, 2024 EDT, two days after the incident", "channel": "email", "verbatimText": "Security Bulletin: Ethnic Intimidation – Aggravated Assault\n\nThis Security Bulletin has been updated to include the Chief of Police’s statement on 9/16 at 1:40 p.m.\n\nThe Division of Public Safety and Security (DPSS) was notified this afternoon that the Ann Arbor Police Department (AAPD) is investigating an alleged assault incident that occurred in the area of S. Forest Avenue and Hill Street on September 15, 2024, at approximately 12:30 a.m. The victim stated they were walking with friends, and was asked what their religious affiliation was by the suspects. After answering, the suspects assaulted the victim and then fled the area on foot.\n\nThis is an ongoing investigation and details are still being confirmed. If you have any information, please contact the AAPD tip line at 734.794.6939 or email tips@a2gov.org. You can also call DPSS at 734.763.1131.\n\nSafety and Security Tips:\n\n• Look assertive and be aware of your surroundings.\n\n• Trust your intuition. If a particular situation makes you feel uncomfortable or unsafe, choose an alternative.\n\n• Walk with a friend or co-worker in well-lit areas.\n\n• If you feel threatened, look for a blue light emergency phone or call 911 from any phone.\n\n• If you see something, say something. Report suspicious behavior. Call 911\n\n• Confidential Tip Line 1-800-863-1355.\n\nStatement from the University of Michigan Police Department (UMPD) Chief of Police Crystal James:\n\n“As an update to the Ann Arbor Police Department’s (AAPD) investigation, the Division of Public Safety and Security (DPSS) condemns ethnic intimidation to the highest degree. This past weekend, a Jewish member of our community reported being a victim of antisemitism when assaulted by a group of individuals. DPSS continues leveraging all available resources and is working closely with our AAPD partners and others across the campus to support the investigation and ensure the safety of our university and surrounding areas. There is no place for hate crimes or violence within our community, and we will remain vigilant in our efforts to hold those responsible accountable.\n\nIt is important that anyone with information regarding the assault contact the AAPD tip line at 734.794.6939, email tips@a2gov.org, or call DPSS at 734.763.1131.\n\nAdditionally, if you or someone you know has been a victim of a hate crime, contact 911, AAPD, or DPSS immediately.”", "isVerbatimConfirmed": true, "sourceUrl": "https://news.dpss.umich.edu/2024/09/4462", "sourceDescription": "U-M DPSS Security Bulletin", "annotations": [ "Corrected to exact Chief of Police statement as published on the official DPSS security bulletin (including curly quotation marks)", "Bulletin updated 9/16/2024 at 1:40 p.m. to include this statement" ], "characterCount": 2379 } ], "context": "[The University of Michigan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Michigan), a public R1 university in Ann Arbor with approximately 52,000 students, has one of the largest Jewish student populations in the Big Ten. In the early hours of September 15, 2024, [a 19-year-old Jewish student was walking with friends in the South University area when a group of men approached and asked his religion](https://www.adl.org/resources/press-release/adl-condemns-attack-university-michigan-jewish-student-offers-10000-reward); when he answered, the men threw him to the ground, kicked him, and spat on him before fleeing on foot. The [Ann Arbor Police Department classified the incident as a 'bias-motivated assault' and ethnic intimidation](https://www.timesofisrael.com/jewish-student-attacked-in-michigan-after-being-asked-his-ethnicity/) and the [University of Michigan Division of Public Safety and Security issued a Security Bulletin](https://dpss.umich.edu/news-and-alerts/security-bulletins/security-bulletin-09-15-24-ethnic-intimidation-and-aggravated-assault-updated/) condemning the attack. The case became a national flashpoint as the [ADL offered a $10,000 reward for information](https://www.adl.org/campus-antisemitism-report-card/university-michigan) leading to an arrest. The incident occurred against the backdrop of the 2023-24 academic-year surge in campus antisemitic violence (Michigan was already under federal investigation for its handling of antisemitism complaints) and the alert language is notable for its restraint: U-M characterized the assault as ethnic intimidation but did not invoke the Clery 'timely warning' classification, instead using DPSS's advisory Security Bulletin channel.", "keyFindings": [ "U-M's DPSS used the Security Bulletin (advisory) channel rather than a formal Clery timely warning, institutional choice that affected legal classification", "The bulletin's word 'ethnic intimidation' references Michigan's hate-crime statute (MCL 750.147b) rather than federal hate-crime language", "The 2-day delay between incident (Sept 15 ~12:30 a.m. EDT) and bulletin (~Sept 17) reflects coordination with AAPD", "AAPD (not DPSS) was the lead investigator because the assault occurred off the university footprint; this divided jurisdiction is reflected in the bulletin's tip-line guidance", "The bulletin omits suspect description, location, and time, unusually brief structure for a U-M public-safety communication", "The case occurred during a documented surge in campus antisemitic violence: the ADL reported 28 assaults on Jewish students nationwide in the 2023-24 academic year" ], "sources": [ { "title": "Security Bulletin 09/15/24: Ethnic Intimidation & Aggravated Assault [Updated] — U-M DPSS", "url": "https://dpss.umich.edu/news-and-alerts/security-bulletins/security-bulletin-09-15-24-ethnic-intimidation-and-aggravated-assault-updated/", "type": "official-archive" }, { "title": "U of Michigan condemns assault of Jewish student on campus — Jewish Telegraphic Agency", "url": "https://www.jta.org/2024/09/16/united-states/u-of-michigan-condemns-assault-of-jewish-student-on-campus", "type": "local-media" }, { "title": "AAPD reports bias-motivated assault against Jewish individual — Michigan Daily", "url": "https://www.michigandaily.com/news/news-briefs/aapd-reports-bias-motivated-assault-against-jewish-individual/", "type": "student-newspaper" }, { "title": "ADL Condemns Attack on University of Michigan Jewish Student; Offers $10,000 Reward — ADL", "url": "https://www.adl.org/resources/press-release/adl-condemns-attack-university-michigan-jewish-student-offers-10000-reward", "type": "other" }, { "title": "University of Michigan — ADL Campus Antisemitism Report Card", "url": "https://www.adl.org/campus-antisemitism-report-card/university-michigan", "type": "other" }, { "title": "Jewish student attacked in Michigan after being asked his ethnicity — Times of Israel", "url": "https://www.timesofisrael.com/jewish-student-attacked-in-michigan-after-being-asked-his-ethnicity/", "type": "local-media" }, { "title": "Security Bulletin: Ethnic Intimidation – Aggravated Assault (UPDATED) — news.dpss", "url": "https://news.dpss.umich.edu/2024/09/4462", "type": "official-archive" } ], "confidence": "high", "tags": [ "hate-crime", "antisemitism", "aggravated-assault", "ethnic-intimidation", "university-of-michigan", "michigan", "ann-arbor", "dpss", "security-bulletin", "jewish-student-violence", "post-october-7" ], "dateAdded": "2026-05-03", "lastUpdated": "2026-07-19", "addedBy": "ingestion" }