Four Arrested During Pro-Palestinian Protest at University of Michigan
Four people were arrested at the University of Michigan after a pro-Palestinian demonstration disrupted a campus event.
The protest, which took place at the university’s Diag during the Festifall event on Wednesday, drew about 50 people who advocated for the university to divest from Israel.
Colleen Mastony, Assistant Vice President for Public Affairs, stated that the group was initially given multiple warnings to disperse due to their blocking pedestrian traffic and violating university policy. After some refused to leave, law enforcement made arrests. None of those detained were current students; three were not affiliated with the university, and one was a temporary employee.
The protest is part of ongoing campus activism surrounding the Israel-Gaza conflict. The university has come under significant pressure from student groups, including the recently elected Central Student Government (CSG), which has threatened to withhold its $1.3 million annual budget unless the university agrees to divest from Israel.
This move, led by the Shut It Down Party, could have an impact on numerous student organizations that rely on these funds. The university has stated that it will implement a temporary funding process to ensure that student groups have access to resources, regardless of the student government’s stance.
The Times of Israel and Detroit Free Press contributed to the report.
