U-M students, protesters storm administration building in Ann Arbor with message for school’s president

Ann Arbor, Michigan – students of University of Michigan They raided the administration building in Ann Arbor and delivered a message to the university president.

Pro-Palestinian protesters headed to the government building on Friday (November 17) to head to the presidential palace with a message about the impact they are feeling from the Israeli war.

But when Ann Arbor police got in their way, the demonstrators broke through and entered the building.

Police say U of M students entered the Alexander G. Ruthven building, where the doors to the university’s administrative offices were locked.

Officials said pro-Palestinian protesters made their way inside, pushing, shoving, grabbing and shoving their way past security guards and police in violent waves.

Police said people were still working in the building at about 3:40 p.m., a time when everyone needed to be on alert for the shooter. Some employees witnessed large groups of people storming into the building and others set off panic alarms.

Jewish Voice for Peace UMich posted on social media footage of protesters occupying the rotunda in an attempt to break into the university’s president’s office.

When protesters swarmed the rotunda and occupied offices in an attempt to take over the building, their goal was to invade the university president’s office, and that’s exactly what they did.

U of M police, concerned that people may be injured, called for mutual aid and police responded to the building from across the area.

Ed Trager, a pro-Palestinian protester and Michigan health care worker, said the conflict is impacting families in the area.

Protesting the U of M’s relationship with Israel was essential to him, and for the first time he witnessed a violent surge of protesters.

“I remember asking and saying to one of the police officers, ‘As long as we let the students in, it’s a peaceful protest.’ But they didn’t want any more people in the building. The students attempted to force their way into the building. “

Demonstrators were still chanting “From the river to the sea” and waving placards inside the building, while police issued citations to those who did not leave.