During the middle of the night on Wednesday, approximately 30 masked student protesters at the University of Michigan placed a fake corpse wrapped in bloody sheets in front of the private home of a university official. The protesters, identified as anti-Israel activists, seemed to target at least five members of the university's Board of Regents, who serve as the institution's board of directors. This incident has been described by the university as a significant and dangerous escalation.
Prior to fleeing from the police, the students engaged in a march, chanting, and affixing lists of demands on the doors of the regents, as per an official university statement. Ring camera footage from the official's house captured a masked individual approaching the door and taping a list to it. The official discovered the incident around 6 a.m. when colleagues reported similar protest activities at their homes around 4:40 a.m.
Several student groups have claimed responsibility for the coordinated effort, with some individuals admitting their involvement on local television. The university is currently investigating the matter, and while specific details of the disciplinary procedures remain undisclosed, the behavior has been condemned as an invasion of privacy and a violation of elected officials.
The official, who has young children, expressed gratitude that his kids were unaware of the incident. He emphasized the importance of political engagement but underscored that targeting individuals' homes in such a manner is unacceptable and goes against democratic principles.
Addressing the students involved, the official stressed that the act was not a peaceful protest, highlighting the inherent dangers and the breach of personal safety it posed. While acknowledging the right to free speech, he emphasized that such actions crossed a line and were not conducive to constructive dialogue or political activism.
