Michigan leaders are coming out in support a Metro Detroit synagogue that was attacked on Thursday.
A man armed with a rifle rammed a vehicle into Temple Israel in West Bloomfield and was fatally shot by security. According to a witness, the vehicle caught fire after crashing. None of the temple staff or students who were attending a school inside were hurt, although one security guard was knocked unconscious.
Temple Israel is the largest Reform synagogue in the United States. Speaking on CNN, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel, who is Jewish, said she has been there many times. She said both sides of the political aisle need to have a conversation about rhetoric that fuels antisemitism.
“Whether you’re talking about people on the left who openly have just sort of replaced the word Jew with AIPAC or Zionist, and then as long as you do that, you’re free to say virtually anything that you want,” Nessel said. “We’ve seen it over and over again, and I think it’s time that leaders of both parties stand up and strongly condemn antisemitism and say it will not be accepted in either major political party in the United States, because Jews feel like they have no place to go. They feel like they have no home.”
Michigan Senator Elissa Slotkin, speaking at the Capitol, said she knew friends and family who were sheltering in place during the massive police response.
“This is very personal, and I am just so sick of communities of all kinds not being able to worship in peace,” Slotkin said. “And this time, the Jewish community is again on the receiving end of abhorrent violence, and I’m just — I’m over it.”
In a statement, Governor Gretchen Whitmer called the attack heartbreaking. She said, “The Jewish community should be able to live and practice their faith in peace.” She added Michigan is grateful to the temple security personnel for their bravery and to law enforcement who jumped into action to keep students safe.
Temple Israel issued a statement on Thursday thanking all who helped keep its community safe.
Photo: a statement from Governor Whitmer issued during the police response.
