HUNTINGTON WOODS (WWJ) — For the second time this year, University of Michigan Regent Jordan Acker has been the target of vandalism.
Acker’s Huntington Woods home and vehicle were both vandalized Sunday night. Someone spraypainted the words “divest” and “free Palestine” on his SUV and threw a mason jar through one of his home’s windows.
Acker, who is Jewish, was targeted in June when someone defaced the Goodman Acker law offices in Southfield with similar graffiti. In that incident, the words "Free Palestine" and "Divest Now" on the building’s sign, doors and sidewalk.
The law firm at the time said it was investigating it as a possible hate crime. No arrests have been made
The vandalism at Acker’s home over the weekend comes two months after two other Michigan leaders’ homes were vandalized.
On Oct. 7 — the one-year anniversary of the Hamas attack on Israel that sparked a war in the Middle East — University of Michigan President Santa Ono and Chief Investment Officer Erik Lundberg had their homes targeted with similar graffiti. No arrests were made in either of those incidents or similar vandalism cases at other locations.
WWJ Newsradio 950’s Darrylin Horne spoke to Acker Monday afternoon about the latest incident at his home. The regent called for police to find those responsible and hold them accountable.
“The escalations are simply because there’s been no arrests. Whoever’s doing this feels like they can get away with it. Whether it’s here, whether it’s at the Jewish Federation, whether it’s at President Ono’s private residence, they’ve been able to get away with it. Ultimately it’s on law enforcement to end this crime spree by making arrests.
This spring pro-Palestinian protesters and UM students set up an encampment on the Michigan campus, calling for the university to divest from Israel.
Following this weekend’s vandalism, Rep. Haley Stevens was among the Michigan leaders to denounce the incident.
“Jordan Acker is a dedicated public servant and he and his family should be safe in their own home. I am sickened by the anti-Semitic attack on his home last night. Vandalism, violence, and bigotry have no place in America. Enough. Our Jewish brothers and sisters deserve to live in security and peace,” she said in a post on X.