University of Michigan Campus Club Fair Turns Chaotic As Police Intervene Anti-Israel Protests

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — The otherwise lively University of Michigan club fair transformed into a chaotic scene on Wednesday afternoon as police were called in to curtail an anti-Israel protest, instigated by student activists.

Protestors Demand University’s Divestment from Israel-supporting Firms

The protestors, calling themselves members of the TAHRIR Coalition – an abbreviation for “Transparency, Accountability, Humanity, Reparations, Investment, and Resistance,” demanded that the university immediately divest from all firms that show support towards Israel. The campus fair, which started on a peaceful note, was promptly disturbed by a sit-in by these anti-Israel protestors. They were heard chanting, “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free.” This slogan is interpreted by many as an indirect call for the elimination of the state of Israel.

Pro-Israel Counter-Protesters Stand Their Ground

As tensions began to rise, a crowd of pro-Israel counter-protesters also gathered at the spot, waving American and Israeli flags. Yitz Pierce, the program director at the Jewish Resource Center on campus, joined the counter-protestors, distributing water bottles amid the sweltering summer heat. He stated his aim to show support for his people and ensure a safe environment amid the escalating fear and uncertainty.

The anti-Israel protesters had not been granted a permit to demonstrate yet they distributed fliers detailing their demands. These included the university’s divestment from what they termed as “Israeli apartheid and genocide,” instituting a “People’s Audit,” boycotting Israeli academic institutions, and the abolition of campus policing.

Police Force Protests to Disperse

Matters slipped out of hand when the local police arrived on the scene, demanding over a megaphone that the protesters disperse. However, they were met with resistance, leading the officers to charge into the throng of protestors, arresting at least one student and pushing the crowd away from the front of the library. The protesters regrouped and continued their march across the campus, reaching the Army ROTC table, where the students representing the organization were subjected to their loud protests.

Impact on Campus Environment and Upcoming 2024 Elections

The chaos during the first week of the U-Michigan’s fall semester marks yet another incident in the history of campus disorder that has marshaled the university since the uprising of the Israel-Hamas War. Anti-Israel activists at U-Michigan, known as the “Shut It Down” party, achieved control of the student government last spring. They have since then been defunding clubs on campus, urging the university to divest from companies supporting Israel.

The ongoing Israel-Palestine issue can notably influence the 2024 election. In light of the protests against President Joe Biden’s support towards Israel during Michigan’s February presidential primary, over 100,000 Democratic Primary voters chose to vote “uncommitted.”