DOJ Indicts 8 Pro-Palestinian Activists Over Threats to U-M Officials
Federal prosecutors unsealed charges against eight University of Michigan-connected activists accused of threatening officials to force Israel divestment.
ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN — Eight pro-Palestinian activists connected to the University of Michigan were indicted by federal prosecutors for allegedly transmitting threats to university officials, law enforcement, and businesses as part of a campaign to pressure the school to divest from Israel.
The U.S. Department of Justice unsealed a 63-page grand jury indictment following reports of a raid in Washtenaw County’s city of Ypsilanti. The indictment was filed last month in the U.S. District Court of the Eastern District of Michigan.
The defendants named in the federal charges are Paige Feyock, Amatullah Hakim, Zainab Hakim, Ahmet Korkaya, Miriam Odeh, Alexander Sepulveda, Colin Weger, and Jonathan Zou. All are associated with the University of Michigan.
Alleged Criminal Activities
Federal prosecutors allege the defendants worked with unindicted co-conspirators using encrypted messaging, social media, and overseas partners to research and target victims before attacking them. They later posted about their activities on social media platforms as warnings to others.
“Their criminal activity included spray painting threats, breaking windows, and throwing glass jars filled with noxious chemicals into family homes,” the indictment reads. “They marked their victims with threatening symbols used by Hamas, including red inverted triangles and red handprints. They used the internet and social media to broadcast their message to ensure their threats and commitment to continuing criminal activity were heard by their victims and others who support Israel.”
The alleged conspiracy targeted university leaders, law enforcement officials, and businesses in an effort to convince the University of Michigan to divest from Israel, according to federal prosecutors.
Context and Motivation
The indictment states the defendants were motivated by the October 7, 2023, Hamas terrorist attack on Israel and the subsequent war between the two sides in the Gaza Palestinian territory. Israel has since been accused of genocide in its response to the attack, as confirmed by both Amnesty International and a United Nations independent commission.
FBI Director Kash Patel addressed the case, though details of his statement were not immediately available. The federal investigation represents an escalation in the government’s response to campus activism surrounding the Israel-Palestine conflict.
Legal Proceedings
The unsealing of the indictment follows months of investigation into the alleged threats and intimidation campaign. The charges carry potential federal penalties for transmitting threats across state lines and engaging in coordinated criminal activity.
The case highlights ongoing tensions at universities across the country regarding divestment from Israel, with student activists and advocacy groups calling for institutions to sever financial ties with companies doing business with Israel. The University of Michigan has been a focal point for such activism since the October 2023 Hamas attack and Israel’s military response.
All eight defendants face federal charges related to the alleged threat transmission conspiracy. Court dates and arraignment schedules have not yet been announced by federal prosecutors.
