University of Michigan regent’s law office vandalized with pro-Palestinian graffiti

Pro-Palestinian graffiti spray-painted on the exterior of a Michigan law firm is being investigated as a hate crime, police in suburban Detroit said Monday.

University of Michigan regent and attorney Jordan Acker calls the vandalism “antisemitic” and says staff at the Goodman Acker law firm’s Southfield headquarters discovered it this morning.

Splotches of red paint were left on the “Goodman Acker” sign above the building’s doors. “FREE PALESTINE” was spray-painted in black upon the building’s walls, while “DIVEST NOW” and “U-M KILLS” — a reference to the University of Michigan — were spray-painted in red upon at least one window and a sidewalk.

The law office of @UMich Regent @JordanAckerMI has been vandalized. @Southfield_Gov police are investigating. @WWJ950 @WWJTraffic @FOX2News #Monday @GoodmanAcker pic.twitter.com/1ypLSP22Om

— Charlie Langton (@charlielangton) June 3, 2024

Southfield Police Chief Elvin Barren says investigators believe the graffiti was left between 1:39 a.m. and 1:46 a.m. The FBI and other agencies are assisting in the investigation.

“Make no mistake that targeting individual Jewish elected officials is antisemitism,” Acker, who is Jewish, tells reporters.

“This has nothing to do with Palestine or the war in Gaza or anything else,” Acker continues. “This is done as a message to scare Jews. I was not targeted here today because I am a regent. I am a target of this because I am Jewish.”