The $30 million toe in the water

The University of Michigan has been a hub for pro-Palestine activism since at least 2002, with students calling for the university to divest from Israel. However, since Israel launched its U.S.-backed genocide in Gaza in 2023, the university has taken harsh action against student activists in solidarity with Palestine.

Student activists at the University of Michigan have been calling for the university to divest from Israel since at least 2002 , but the university's response has been increasingly repressive. last year, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel brought state charges against student protesters after local prosecutors had dismissed most of the charges , an unprecedented escalation against protesters.

Who is the unnamed buyer?

The FBI's indictment against the seven University of Michigan-affiliated activists is shrouded in mystery, with the unnamed buyer of the indictment remaining a secret. However, the indictment alleges that the activists carried out a 'criminal intimidation campaign' against university administrators in an attempt to push the university to divest from Israel.

The indictment details instances including the activists placing fake corpses on a university board member's lawn and spray painting pro-Palestine messages at the home of the university's then-president. The charges mark an escalation in the Trump administration's attacks on Palestine solidarity activism, and civil rights groups warn that they veer into attacks on free speech.

An echo of Sydney's 2024 institutional buy-up

The University of Michigan's response to pro-Palestine activism echoes the institutional buy-up of 2024, where the university used private investigators to surveil pro-Palestine student activists, spending at least $800,000 on undercover operatives who followed, recorded, and threatened students.

At a rally at the University of Michigan in January against charges brought against activist students, Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Michigan) condemned the surveillance and targeting of students, saying, 'Why do we need ICE when we have the University of Michigan?' highlighting the severity of the university's repressive tactics.

What auditors flagged in the May filing

The May filing of the University of Michigan's financial records revealed that the university had spent at least $800,000 on undercover operatives who followed, recorded,and threatened students. The auditors flagged this expenditure as a potential misuse of university funds.

The Michigan chapter of the Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR) said the felony charges are an attempt to 'chill speech on campuses.' 'Regardless of one's views on the underlying issues, students do not lose their First Amendment rights because their speech is controversial or unpopular,' said Dawud Walid, executive director of CAIR-Michigan.

A familiar pattern from the 2019 crash

The FBI's indictment against the seven University of Michigan-affiliated activists marks a familir pattern from the 2019 crash, where the government's actions were criticized for targeting peaceful protest as terrorism.

Civil liberties groups warn that the government's actions could set a dangerous precedent for prosecuting peaceful protest as terrorism. The case also highlights the collaboration between federal authorities, state prosecutors, and university administrations in targeting student activists.