A Jewish student at the University of Michigan (UoM) was assaulted in an alleged antisemitic incident on Sunday, according the UoM Hillel in a post on Facebook, the ADL and the University on Monday morning.
The student reported to the Ann Arbor police that a group of people had assaulted him after he had told them he was Jewish.
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The 19-year-old male student was allegedly thrown to the ground, kicked, and spat on, according to a WhatsApp broadcast on a local group.
The Ann Arbor Police Department (AAPD) said in a statement that they were actively investigating a “bias-motivated assault that occurred on 9/15/24 at approximately 12:45 a.m in Hill Street and S. Forest.”
“The 19-year-old male victim reported he was walking when a group of males behind him asked if he was Jewish. When the victim said yes, the group of males proceeded to assault him. The suspects fled on foot.”
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Statement on antisemitic incident at University of Michigan by @A2Police (credit: SCREENSHOT/X)
The victim was mildly wounded and did not need to go to hospital, the statement continued. He reported the incident to the AAPD.
AAPD Police Chief Andre C. Anderson said he had spoken to the UoM police (UMPD) and that there “is absolutely no place for hate or ethnic intimidation” in the city.
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“Our department stands against antisemitism,” he stated.
Rabbi Davey Rosen, the director of UoM Hillel, said that, in addition to the AAPD and UMPD, “through Hillel’s partnership with Jewish Community Security Inc, we are in regular communication with state and federal law enforcement.”
He added that Police Chief Anderson had called him following the incident to assure him “that the AAPD stands against antisemitism and an investigation is underway.”
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President of UoM Santa Ono said the “safety of our campus community is our highest priority” and said the university stands “firmly against antisemitism and all bias-motivated behavior.”
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The CEO of the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), Jonathan Greenblatt, said he was “horrified to learn of an alleged antisemitic assault on a Jewish @UMich student” in an X/Twitter post.
ADL is horrified to learn of an alleged antisemitic assault on a Jewish @UMich student. We are grateful @A2Police are investigating this as a hate crime. @ADL will offer a $5,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the suspects. There is no place for… https://t.co/v1UJi0hVn2
“We are grateful @A2Police are investigating this as a hate crime.”
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Greenblatt added that ADL will give $5000 to anyone providing information that could lead to an arrest or conviction of the suspects.
“There is no place for antisemitism or bigotry on our streets or on our campuses,” he added.
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Jewish students make up around 14% of the student body at Michigan, numbering around 6,500, of which 5,000 are undergrads and 1,500 are graduate students, according to the UoM Hillel’s website.
Previous incidents, investigations at UoM
The Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights has previously investigated UoM for violations of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, finding Michigan failed to comply with Title VI in its handling of antisemitic incidents.
Of the 75 complaints of harassment investigated by the OCR, many of which include incidents of targeting Jewish students, few were handled by the university.
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OCR found “no evidence” that the university complied with Title VI requirements to investigate whether campus protests over the Israel-Hamas war created a “hostile environment” for students, faculty, and staff.
In one incident, the university rejected a Jewish student’s request for conflict resolution after the student said a graduate student instructor had harassed them on social media in October 2023. The university told the student that social media “is largely going to be protected as free speech,” according to the Office of Civil Rights report.
MACOMB COUNTY, Mich. – A Michigan family tried everything to stop the sudden deportation of their mother.
They spoke with a lawyer. They called state senators. And they reached out to Local 4 to share their story with our viewers.
But on Friday, Irina Sobierajska went to Detroit Metro Airport to head back to Poland, leaving the United States after 20 years.
Her family said they were told she had to leave the country within 48 hours, even though they kept up with her immigration requirements.
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“They look at her as a criminal and that’s just the heartbreaking part,” her son, Bernard Sobierajska, said. “She’s never done anything, and she’s just the nicest person in the world. I don’t get it.”
“I feel like people could find it in their hearts to not separate a family who is trying to just live a life like anybody else, and have the same opportunities and work hard,” her daughter, Patrycja Sobierajska, said.
They received a notice last week that Irina Sobierajska’s stay of removal request was denied by ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations.
“How can you go back to a country you have literally nothing?” Irina Sobierajska said.
She is a Polish citizen who lived in Poland for about 10 years. She’s allowed to work in the U.S. but is currently an unlawful resident because she doesn’t have legal status.
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“Her and my dad came to the country to help build a better life and start a strong foundation for my brother and myself,” Patrycja Sobierajska said.
Irina Sobierajska is also the caretaker for her husband, who suffers from diabetes, arthritis, and depression. The family fears his condition will worsen without her.
“He just doesn’t know how he is going to continue his daily life without his wife by his side,” Patrycja Sobierajska said.
“It’s just all unfair,” Bernard Sobierajska said. “I don’t think her case was looked at enough.”
ICE released the following statement about Irina’s case to Local 4:
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Irina Sobierajska was ordered removed by an immigration judge in 2014 as she was a visa overstay. She has been afforded due process as she made multiple attempts to appeal that decision with the courts, but the immigration judge’s order of removal still stands. ICE allows aliens to pursue relief from removal but when they exhaust all legal avenues to do so, ICE must carry out the judge’s removal order.
Statement from ICE
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A European theater chain, Kinepolis Group, is acquiring the Troy-based Emagine Entertainment.
The deal is valued at $105 million and is expected to be finalized by the end of the year.
A European theater chain is buying Troy-based Emagine Entertainment.
Kinepolis Group, a Belgian company, announced on Tuesday, Nov. 4, that it plans to acquire 14 Emagine theaters in Michigan, Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin and finalize the $105 million deal by the end of the year.
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The deal is for 100% of Emagine’s business, according to a news release, and the theaters will continue to operated under the Emagine brand name.
Crain’s Detroit reported that Glantz and his family own about 36% of Emagine.
Not all of the 28 theater locations listed on Emagine’s website are included in the deal, as about half are operated by third parties.
The Kinepolis Group previously acquired the MJR Digital Cinemas chain in 2019 and continued to operate those theaters under the MJR brand.
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“Kinepolis has a reputation for operating exceptionally well-run cinemas both in Europe and in North America,” Glantz said in the news release. “Their commitment to providing guests with an unforgettable movie experience makes them the ideal suitor to continue the stewardship of Emagine into the future.”
Glantz was not available for additional comment Tuesday morning.
“With the acquisition of Emagine Entertainment, we are back on track with the execution of our expansion strategy since the pandemic,” Eddy Duquenne, CEO of Kinepolis Group, said in a statement. “We do this with a high-quality asset in a market where we have had positive experiences with our Kinepolis concepts. The location and size of the cinemas make them a valuable addition to the Group’s portfolio, allowing us to expand our presence in the US market and strengthen our national structure.”
The news release says Emagine’s theaters have about 6 million visitors a year and do nearly $129 million in revenue.
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Michigan theaters not included in the deal are The Riviera Cinema in Farmington Hills and Emagine Woodhaven, which operate under the Emagine brand but are managed by third parties through a brand licensing agreement, the news release says.
The theaters that are in the deal are:
Michigan
Emagine Canton
Emagine Royal Oak
Emagine Hartland
Emagine Birch Run
Emagine Saline
Emagine Novi
Emagine Macomb
Emagine Rochester Hills
Quality 10 Powered by Emagine (Saginaw)
Illinois:
Emagine Frankfort
Emagine Batavia
Indiana:
Emagine Noblesville
Emagine Portage
Wisconsin:
Check back to Freep.com for more on this developing story.
Michigan hockey freshman defenseman Henry Mews suffered a season-ending injury, the team announced Monday.
“University of Michigan defenseman Henry Mews has suffered a season-ending injury, prematurely ending his freshman season with the Wolverines,” a team spokesperson wrote in an email.
Early in the first period Saturday against Notre Dame, Mews took a knee-on-knee hit from Fighting Irish forward Sutter Muzzatti behind Michigan’s net. Mews laid on the ice for several seconds before he was able to get to the bench under his own power, unable to put much weight on his left leg. Mews immediately went down the tunnel and did not return to the game.
“Obviously you don’t want to lose a guy like that,” junior forward Nick Moldenhauer said Saturday postgame. “He’s an unbelievable player. But I think it just made us want to win that game even more for him. They injure one of your better D-men and power-play guys, you want to go out there and win it for him. That was just a little bit of extra fire for us to move forward.”
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Mews’ loss is enormous for the Wolverines. The Calgary Flames draft pick was central to Michigan’s early success this year. A dynamic offensive defenseman, Mews was a key puck-mover for the Wolverines and played the point on Michigan’s first-ranked power play. Through 10 games, he had nine points. The Wolverines’ depth will be tested to replace him and his production.
