An antisemitic assault which was carried out in Saturday night by six people near the University of Michigan is being investigated by law enforcement officials, the Algemeiner news website has reported.
The incident took place when the group confronted the 19-year-old victim, whose identity has not been disclosed and demanded to know if he was Jewish.
After the young man acknowledged he was, the suspect slammed him to the concrete then kicked and spat on him before fleeing the scene, according to the Ann Arbor Police Department.
The Anti-Defamation League has offered a $5,000 reward for information leading to the arrests of the culprits.
Ann Arbor Police Department chief Andre C Anderson said in a statement issued on Sunday: “There is absolutely no place for hate or ethnic intimidation in the City of Ann Arbor. Our department stands against antisemitism and all acts of bias-motivated crimes. We are committed to vigorously investigating this and other hate-motivated incidents and we will work with the county prosecutor’s office to aggressively prosecute those who are responsible.”
Ann Arbor Police have confirmed that the men caused “minor injuries” to the victim, who did not require hospitalisation. The investigation into the incident is ongoing.
University of Michigan President Santa J Ono said on Monday morning, “We strongly condemn and denounce this act of violence and all antisemitic acts.
“Antisemitism is in direct conflict with the university’s deeply held values of safety, respect, and inclusion and has no place within our community.”
The university, he added, was a place “where all students — regardless of their race, sex, nationality, and religion — deserve to feel safe and protected as they pursue the important work of becoming citizens of the wider world.”
The university has not been immune to antisemitic incidents in recent years. In November 2022, an unidentified man grabbed a female student by the arm while passing her on campus and made antisemitic remarks. In July 2023, swastikas and homophobic slurs were spray-painted on two off-campus fraternity houses.
