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University of Michigan Peony Garden Vandalized, Anti-Israel Messaging Found at Scene

Charlie Kirk Staff

06/02/2025

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University of Michigan Peony Garden Vandalized, Anti-Israel Messaging Found at Scene

Hundreds of flowers were destroyed over the weekend at the University of Michigan’s historic peony garden, in what campus officials are treating as a deliberate act of vandalism. Notes left at the scene referenced support for the Palestinian cause, though no suspect has been identified

Early Sunday, staff discovered that approximately 250 peony plants at the W.E. Upjohn Peony Garden had been damaged, with most of their flowers cut off. The garden, located in the Nichols Arboretum, contains around 800 peony plants and is recognized as the largest collection of historic herbaceous peonies in North America.

While the individual or group responsible has not come forward, printed notes were found scattered near the damaged plants. The messages suggested a political motive tied to the war in Gaza, Fox News reports.

“Plant lives don’t matter. Human lives do,” read one of the notes. Other pages said, “Stop the war. Resist Imperialism,” and “Palestinian lives deserve to be cared for. More than these flowers.” Another note added, “Don’t waste your tears on the peonies. They are not even dead and will grow again next spring.”

The University of Michigan issued a strong statement condemning the damage. “Make no mistake, the criminal tactics used in the recent act of vandalism at Nichols Arboretum are wholly unacceptable,” the university said. “We unequivocally condemn the destruction of property and any act of vandalism on our campus.”

Officials stressed that targeting a space meant to foster calm and reflection is “counter productive.” The university urged community members to focus on “constructive and meaningful dialogue.”

The Division of Public Safety & Security (DPSS) is actively investigating the incident. The university confirmed it is being treated as a “criminal incident,” and has asked anyone with information to come forward.

The damage comes during a period of heightened tensions related to the Israel-Hamas conflict, which has sparked protests and unrest on many U.S. college campuses. In October, the home of University of Michigan President Santa Ono was vandalized with graffiti that included the words “intifada” and “coward.”

This latest incident occurred the same day as an attack in Boulder, Colorado, during a pro-Israel demonstration. Authorities allege that Mohamed Sabry Soliman threw Molotov cocktails into a crowd, injuring multiple people. A federal complaint says Soliman “stated that he wanted to kill all Zionist people.”

Though the two incidents happened on the same day, officials have not established any direct connection between them.

For now, University of Michigan staff are working to assess the full extent of the damage to the peony garden. While the plants are expected to recover in time, the university is emphasizing the broader impact on campus culture and safety.

The DPSS continues to investigate and has not yet released any details about potential suspects or surveillance footage.

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Charlie Kirk is the Founder and President of Turning Point USA, a national student movement dedicated to empowering young people to promote the principles of free markets and limited government.

Charlie is also the host of “The Charlie Kirk Show” podcast, which regularly ranks among the top-10 news shows on Apple podcast news charts, and is the host of the nationally syndicated daily radio show on the Salem Radio Network live from 12 - 3 PM ET.
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