DETROIT\u00a0\u2014\u00a0Federal prosecutors unsealed an indictment Wednesday against eight pro-Palestinian activists who are accused of conspiring to run a criminal intimidation campaign against University of Michigan officials while trying to force the school to cut financial ties to Israel.<\/p>\n
The indictment also describes vandalism against some companies that operate in Michigan and against the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn America, we rule by law, not by fear. These alleged threats and attempts to terrorize government officials, businesses, and the Jewish Federation are anti-American. We will counter intimidation with justice,\u201d said U.S. Attorney Jerome Gorgon Jr.<\/p>\n
The document highlights several incidents that made headlines in the past few years, including fake bloody corpses that were placed on an elected university board member\u2019s lawn and the spray-painting of anti-Israel messages at the home of the school\u2019s president at the time, Santa Ono.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey marked their victims with threatening symbols used by Hamas, including red inverted triangles and red handprints,\u201d the indictment states. \u201cThey 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
Six of the eight people named in the indictment were expected to make initial appearances Wednesday in federal court in Detroit. One person was arrested in Wisconsin and another was not in custody, said Gina Balaya of the U.S. Attorney\u2019s Office.<\/p>\n
The Associated Press couldn\u2019t immediately reach any of the defendants or their attorneys for comment.<\/p>\n