Three protesters advocating for Palestine were arrested during a demonstration on Wednesday night organized by the TAHRIR Coalition, which comprises over 90 pro-Palestine student organizations. The protest was held outside the Rackham Graduate School at the University of Michigan, where former members of the Israel Defense Forces were speaking as part of an event titled “Triggered: Combat on College,” hosted by the university’s chapter of Students Supporting Israel (SSI). This event is a continuation of a tour that SSI has been conducting since spring 2025, having visited more than 20 college campuses to date.
Approximately 150 activists gathered to voice their opposition to the event, expressing deep concern over the ongoing Israeli military actions in Gaza, which they highlighted as having resulted in over 67,000 deaths and being classified as genocide by the United Nations. Protesters, including LSA senior Fiona Dunlop, emphasized the need to refer to the Israeli military as the IOF, or Israeli Occupation Forces, to reflect their view of the situation in Palestine. Dunlop stated, “They’re occupying Palestine — creating a genocide in Palestine. So that’s why we call them the IOF.”
The protest outside the south entrance of Rackham continued for several hours, featuring banners and images intended to raise awareness about the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. While this primary group dispersed peacefully after their demonstration, a smaller contingent remained near the north entrances, anticipating the departure of the Israeli soldiers. This latter group encountered a significant response from the University of Michigan Police Department.
An anonymous protester, identified as John for this article, recounted an intense situation where police began to forcibly handle peaceful protesters. He described moments where police threatened to use pepper spray and emphasized that none of the individuals present engaged in violent conduct that would warrant such a police response. “It was an incredibly violent situation that occurred really out of nowhere,” John noted.
The situation escalated further when police arrested three students, two of whom were sent to the Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Office, while the third individual faced transfer to another unspecified agency due to prior felony charges, according to Deputy Chief Paul DeRidder of the University of Michigan Police Department.
Following the arrests, protesters regrouped outside the university’s Division of Public Safety and Security police station seeking information on their peers. However, tensions rose when DeRidder instructed the crowd to disperse, citing the disruption of police operations. He warned that reporters could also face arrest if they did not leave the area.
In a quest for answers about the detainees, activists proceeded to the Washtenaw County Jail, where they continued their demonstration. John expressed frustration about the lack of clear information from law enforcement regarding the arrested individuals, highlighting a perceived discrepancy in how pro-Palestinian activists are treated compared to groups like SSI. “It’s completely unfair, it’s completely unjust and it shows just the inhumanity of DPSS and the police forces locally,” he remarked.
This event highlights ongoing tensions regarding free speech on college campuses and the complexities surrounding advocacy for Palestine amidst escalated conflict dynamics. As reactions continue to unfold from both protesters and administrative bodies, the situation remains fluid, with the potential for further developments as activists seek justice and clarity for those arrested.