A prominent Michigan lawyer and University of Michigan regent is speaking out after being attacked twice by anti-Israel agitators.
Jordan Acker told Fox News Digital that his Michigan law office was vandalized Monday morning, with anti-Semitic messages, including “Free Palestine,” spray-painted on the building. Vulgar language such as “Abandon your investments now” was used.
““I witnessed absolutely horrific, over-the-top criminal activity that was perpetrated in our building, and since then we have met with staff to try to help them understand what was going on,” Acker, an attorney and partner at the law firm Goodman Acker, told Fox News Digital.
This is the second time Acker has been the target of a so-called hate crime, after a masked man turned up at his home last month with a list of demands.
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University of Michigan Trustee and Attorney Jordan Acker details the recent targeted attack on his law firm and family. (Fox News)
“I have three young children and it’s horrifying. My daughters were sleeping upstairs when this happened a few weeks ago. You can argue that this was not anti-Semitic, but it was certainly an anti-Semitic attack. It’s the same as when businesses are attacked in Germany because they’re Jewish. This is happening in third world countries. This is not acceptable. It’s not acceptable.”
Acker, who also serves on the University of Michigan Board of Trustees, added that the vandalism and threats were a direct attack on him and his beliefs.
“So, about two weeks ago, the entire Board of Trustees at the University of Michigan was targeted. It didn’t matter if you were Jewish or not, Democrat or Republican, we were all targeted. Today it’s a whole different story. This was just me. No other trustees were targeted,” Acker explained.
Acker also said he felt like he was specifically targeted for two reasons.
“First of all, I’m Jewish. Secondly, my office in Southfield, Michigan is in a very Orthodox Jewish neighborhood. And I believe this was not just an attempt to intimidate me, but to intimidate the community that lives here,” Acker said.
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Asked about the unrest on college campuses, Acker said it was a lesson to Americans that anti-Semitism in this country can come from both sides.
“This is coming from some elite institutions. This is unacceptable, this is wrong, and it’s important for people like me who are on the left of center to stand up and say this is unacceptable, this is un-American in this country,” Acker said.
Acker said what’s happening on some college campuses and the attacks on his business and family are not an effective or productive way to make your voice heard.
“To me, as a Democrat, as a liberal, it’s very disturbing that things are going the way they are, because as I’ve said before and I’ll say again, if academia doesn’t address these issues, particularly those related to anti-Semitism, you’re going to have far-right groups that are happy to silence our faculty in ways that they don’t like,” Acker continued.
Acker went on to say that DEI programs are to blame for the growing issues at universities and colleges across the country.
“I think one of the reasons colleges have this problem is because a lot of colleges over the last 10 years have used DEI to emphasize student feelings, rather than actual diversity, equity and inclusion, and other things. And what’s happening here is a situation where Jews are not wanted, or Jews want their feelings to be emphasized, as it seems to have been the case with every other group over the last 10 years,” Acker said.
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The law firm Goodman Acker said its sign was vandalized early Monday morning, with red paint and a red handprint on its glass door. “Free Palestine” was spray-painted on a sign near the road and on the exterior of both law firms. (FOX 2 Detroit)
Acker added that to change the minds of elected officials, they need to change their tactics and persuade them, but ultimately, if they can’t be persuaded to change, they’ll have to be voted out of office.
“We do not harass or intimidate. It is un-American and unacceptable behavior for any group,” Acker continued.
Acker believes the situation on college campuses is complicated because the Middle East conflict is not new and has been going on for more than 75 years.
“I think with a conflict as old and complex as this, it’s very easy to see some as good guys and some as bad guys, and for young people, this current conflict is very complicated,” Acker said. “This conflict didn’t start on the morning of the founding of Israel. Anyone who simplifies it to say Palestinians are good and Israelis are bad is not really thinking about how complex a conflict this is.””
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The law firm Goodman Acker was the victim of vandalism on Monday morning in what the firm called an “anti-Semitic attack.” (FOX 2 Detroit)
Acker added that this is a pivotal moment in history for students of higher education to learn and understand what is really going on. He hopes that students, especially those at the University of Michigan, can grow from this conflict.
“I think this is an important moment for students, to not just listen to their own echo chamber, but to actually get out there and hear the other side’s ideas. And that’s what I do. I’ve spent a lot of time today and over the last few weeks meeting with and understanding groups from the Arab American community here in Southeast Michigan, and I’ve realized that on a lot of different things we’re not that different. But on the things we disagree on, we have to do so in a productive, respectful, meaningful way, and this is not it,” Acker said.
But Acker said there is a need to challenge the views of intelligent students, especially those at elite schools, and that this is not the case today.
During a press conference on Monday morning, Acker, along with other partners and members of the law firm, stressed that the attack was malicious and targeted.
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Anti-Israel graffiti spray-painted on the exterior of a Michigan law office is being investigated as a hate crime, authorities said. (FOX 2 Detroit)
“This is an incredibly difficult moment for me personally and for this community. Make no mistake: the individual targeting of Jewish elected officials is anti-Semitic. This has nothing to do with Palestine, the Gaza war or anything else. This is being done as a message to scare Jewish people,” Acker said.
The law firm said it is a Muslim- and Jewish-owned business with a long history of supporting civil rights and fighting discrimination, and has served the community for 30 years.
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Investigators are reviewing security camera footage from the law firm and say three men appear to have vandalised the building while another acted as a lookout.
Authorities are also investigating the vandalism as a hate crime.
