Ted McTaggart
Posted June 16, 2026
“Freedom of Speech… Just Watch What You Say” — Ice-T
Early in the morning of Wednesday, June 10, federal agents arrested seven young pro-Palestinian activists in Michigan, Wisconsin and Illinois. The seven were indicted (along with an eighth, who was abroad at the time of the indictment and has not yet been arrested) with numerous felonies that could result in each receiving between 5 and 55 years in prison along with multi-million dollar fines. While the federal government’s charges are rife with references to Hamas and terrorism, none of the activists have actually been charged with terrorism. Instead, the crimes are by and large property crimes, with no weapons more dangerous than cans of spray paint and non-toxic stink bombs. It is clear that the government’s case relies largely on strident rhetoric pulled from Signal chats and personal conversations among friends.
The alleged acts of vandalism took place in the months following the violent dispersal of a peaceful encampment on the University of Michigan’s campus in May 2024. Former University President Ono, U of M regents Kathy White and Jordan Acker, and the University of Michigan campus police subjected the indicted activists and many others to a campaign of repression, intimidation and slander in the months prior to the alleged crimes.
Of note, University of Michigan police cars were on the scene in Ypsilanti when a number of the defendants were picked up. The federal government stepped in after Washtenaw County prosecutor Eli Savit declined to prosecute the activists, and after Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel, at the urging of University of Michigan Regents, filed and subsequently dropped charges in the face of massive public pressure last year.
I attended the arraignment and bond hearing for four of the defendants yesterday at the federal courthouse in Detroit: Zainab Hakim, Paige Fayock, Jonathan Zou and Colin Weger. All four were in orange jumpsuits and handcuffs for the hearing. The good news is that all four were released on $10,000 bond pending trial, though they are all tethered and subject to what sounded like quite draconian terms.
The main courtroom was packed with supporters; an overflow room (where I sat) had 60-75 additional supporters observing on a live video feed; numerous other supporters stayed outside the courthouse during the hearing.
Federal immigration officers were seen trolling around the building.
The prosecuting attorney, Maggie Smith, gave a rabid statement on behalf of the federal government to justify their detainment pending trial. Of Zainab, she said, “She appears to be the leader of this sort of revolution organization,” and told the judge that she likes to lead chants at protests. For these reasons, and the fact that a man with whom she is in a dating relationship, Mr. Shapiro, who she referred to as an “unindicted coconspirator,” had planned to go on a podcast talking about the charges, Ms. Smith insisted Zainab must be denied bail and jailed until trial.
Paige, meanwhile, was dangerous because she had allegedly “created” the term “intifada” and suggested in conversations with friends in 2024 that they start a Weather Underground-style group and bomb pro-life organizations’ offices. When the judge asked if there was any evidence that Paige had ever taken any steps to do any of these things, Smith responded “no.”
Jonathan, meanwhile, was alleged by Smith to have once suggested to a friend that they start a group called “Jews for Jihad,” and he had lived in China for 15 years while growing up (his parents still live there). The disgust in Ms. Smith’s voice when she pronounced the word China was clear.
Smith shared that Colin had been eager to be part of a research project to figure out how to damage heavy machinery at Maersk and/or Rolls-Royce. Again, when the judge asked if any such destruction had actually occurred, Ms. Smith said they don’t have evidence that it did. She also notes that when his house was searched, they found not only marijuana, but also mushrooms — “not cooking mushrooms” — and an unknown substance in tin foil, which she told pretrial services not to open.
Both marijuana and psilocybin mushrooms have been decriminalized and can be purchased openly at stores in Ann Arbor. Undisclosed items, including but not limited to baked potatoes, can be found in most American households.
Smith said the prosecution had evidence that Colin had amassed a large collection of patches and other memorabilia from organizations around the world, including Hamas and Chinese socialists. He also owned a firearm.
Smith told the court, “These defendants have extremely violent viewpoints tied to terrorism. They have justified in their mind calls for murder. They openly reject the notion of law enforcement, believe we are fascist, colonialist. They are obsessed with oppression campaigns, to the point that this is almost the only thing they are doing on that campus.”
The court later heard that Zainab, Jonathan and Paige had all excelled academically at U of M; Colin has never been a student at U of M but studies at a local community college. All four are civically engaged in meaningful ways in their communities.
Smith further stated, “They believe they are doing nothing wrong, believe they are being persecuted for being pro-Palestinian.” Given the severity of the government response to what could have easily been charged as misdemeanor vandalism, it is hard for this observer to escape such a conclusion.
Finally, Smith takes a swipe at the hundred-plus people who showed up in solidarity: “Their supporters in the courtroom have the same groupthink mentality. They are people willing to drop everything and come to a courthouse — this should be a concern.” Smith and the federal government want the public to avert their gaze and allow them to do what they want; evidently she would prefer that courtrooms be closed to the public.
When it became apparent that Judge Patti was skeptical that the defendants were flight risks, Smith grasped at straws to show that their freedom would pose a threat to the community. She asserted they have “a mindset of being anti-police coming from Hamas loyalty… I believe these defendants represent danger to the community as well, I just can’t get a hearing on that.” She also highlighted use of terms like “by any means necessary” by the defendants as rationales for keeping them detained; when defense attorney Hall pointed out to the judge that he teaches his grandchildren about “by any means necessary,” Smith raised an objection to this narrative, which was overruled by the judge. Smith also asked the judge to “note that the letter of recommendation [for Jonathan Zou] comes from a professor in anticolonialism, [teaching about] international movements challenging imperialism. [Jonathan] is on the road to full indoctrination and should be detained.”
While granting bond to the four defendants, Judge Patti could not resist making sanctimonious speeches to each one, encouraging them to take classes in American Government and asserting that in America they have the freedom to hate their government without being imprisoned or executed. That is, at least, as long as they stay away from spray paint, stink bombs and strident rhetoric.
Ted McTaggart is a registered nurse, a trade union and socialist activist in Southeast Michigan.
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