Protesters clash with police during demonstration on anniversary of Oct. 7 Hamas attack

Pro-Palestinian protesters clashed with University of Michigan campus police Monday and at least one arrest was made during a demonstration march that marked the one year anniversary of the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel.

“I don’t understand how there can be a celebration like this on the one year anniversary of [the attack],” Sean Peleg, a senior who is also Jewish told Michigan Advance. “Because one year ago today, Hamas invaded Israel. One year ago tomorrow, Israel responded. So for them to be saying this is a resistance celebration, no. This is a celebration of the terrorist attack that happened a year ago today, in my opinion.”

The protesters, members of the TAHRIR Coalition of student groups demanding the university divest itself from all financial and academic connections with Israel, began the protest in front of Rackham Auditorium before marching toward The Diag, where campus Jewish groups had set up a memorial to honor the more than 1,200 mostly civilian Israelis murdered by Hamas and those still being held hostage out of the approximately 250 taken captive that day.

The ensuing Israeli military response has killed nearly 42,000 Palestinians, according to the Hamas-controlled Gaza Health Ministry.

As police kept the protesters at a distance from the memorial, a scuffle broke out and officers were seen escorting a handcuffed individual to a police vehicle while other protesters followed, and then surrounded the vehicle, while yelling, “Let him go! Let him go!” It is not clear what the protector was taken into custody for. A message was left with U of M officials for details.

As officers tried to escort the vehicle off the The Diag, they had to form a cordon to keep protesters at bay, while the vehicle inched along toward the street. At one point pepper spray was deployed, although it is not clear by who, with protesters seen coughing and using water to irrigate their eyes. They also crowded the driver side window, yelling obscenities at the officers inside.

“The struggle is connected everywhere we are,” said student protester Eaman Ali before the march began. “The fight for self-governance, for the people of this university to not just be listened to, but to have a say is not disconnected from the Palestinian fight for freedom, liberation, and self determination. When power is struggling to maintain its choke hold on our collective consciousness, on our ignorance, across the world, its tactics are the same. It turns to police and military violence, to the carceral state, to the weaponization of laws and regulations. We currently see this desperation from the Zionist entity itself as it is now bombing four countries all at once in a flailing attempt to save itself.”

The protests and police confrontation marked a day of discord, anger and recriminations across Michigan. Earlier in the day, vandals spray-painted graffiti at the Jewish Federation of Detroit building in Bloomfield Township, while the West Bloomfield home of University President Santa Ono and the home of Erik Lundberg, U of M’s chief investment officer, were also vandalized with spray paint.

“Antisemitic flyers in West Bloomfield on Saturday; antisemitic vandalism at the Jewish Federation on Monday. How many who have called for a ceasefire in Gaza have also called for a ceasefire against Jewish students on campus, our synagogues and institutions?,” asked state Rep. Noah Arbit (D-West Bloomfield), who is Jewish.

Meanwhile, state Sen. Jeremy Moss (D-Southfield), who is also Jewish, expressed his exhaustion on the anniversary.

“Today does not feel like a solemn annual remembrance of the horrific events on October 7, 2023 — the largest mass slaughter of Jews since the Holocaust — but rather the 366th day of fresh and ongoing pain,” said Moss.

Another Jewish lawmaker, U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin (D-Holly), called it a bitter anniversary that highlights a cycle of violence.

“It is hard to overstate how this crisis has roiled the state of Michigan for 365 days. And one of the saddest things about what’s happened is that, in talking to both Jewish Americans and Arab and Muslim Americans nearly each day since, both communities experienced mirror-image pain this year,” she said. “Both are pained by the sharp rise in antisemitism and Islamophobia. Both sides fear for their kids, and their experience at college. And both sides are struggling to find a path forward to feel hopeful about.”

Also speaking out was U.S. Tim Walberg (R-Tipton).

“On the anniversary of the barbaric terror attack carried out by Hamas, our hearts go out to the victims and the 97 hostages still held, including American citizens. The United States continues to stand firmly with Israel as they defend themselves and deter future aggression,” he posted.

Senate Minority Leader Aric Nesbitt also issued a statement via social media.

“Today, we remember the innocent men, women, and children who were victims of the barbaric attack launched by cowardly, terrorist thugs (Hamas) on the people of Israel. Let’s honor the victims by standing against terrorism and striving for justice. #BringThemHome,” he posted.

Prior to the confrontation with protesters, Jack Landstein, vice president of engagement at University of Michigan Hillel, told the Advance that the memorial, which included pictures of those killed in the Oct. 7 attack, milk carton silhouettes of those still missing, and small Israeli flags arranged in a Star of David pattern, was something they had been planning for months and while it was open to all, it had a specific purpose.

“The focus is on the Jewish community, and because the community is predominantly students, we want to make sure this event, while open to the entire community, resonates with Jewish students,” he said. “The Jewish community is about love, hope, peace, and our goal with this event, in addition to just commemorating everybody who was murdered, is also to highlight humanity and recognize everybody as a life, and there’s value in every person. And it is important as a Jewish community. We’re working to better everybody.”

But for Ali, the day marked a recognition that there was not just a single narrative. It also made plain that the divide was as deep as ever.

“We see the courage and bravery of the people of Gaza, of Lebanon, and of the people around the world as they resist the colonial violence that attempts to swallow them. So how can we be afraid? We are so many. We are the people. A global movement of masses moved and called upon by the spirit and steadfastness of the Palestinian resistance,” she said.

Michigan Advance is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Michigan Advance maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Susan J. Demas for questions: info@michiganadvance.com. Follow Michigan Advance on Facebook and X.