A University of Michigan student was arrested on Sunday after physically assaulting conservative influencer Lizzy Benichou during a campus event. The student reportedly pushed Benichou to the ground and, while being taken into custody, made statements including that she should have "killed" the influencer.
The incident occurred on the Ann Arbor campus as Benichou engaged with individuals at a table with a sign asking, “Is Islam Compatible with the West?” Video of the event shows the student arguing with two men before confronting Benichou, who questioned whether the student's attire would be acceptable in Iran. The student then lunged at Benichou, pushing her to the ground before being restrained by a bystander and later by police.
During her arrest, the student became increasingly agitated, verbally abusing officers and onlookers. As she was being placed in a police car, she expressed no remorse, stating, "I should’ve f–king killed you when I had the f–king chance." She also claimed to have been to a mental hospital and would return if it meant harming others.
Benichou later posted on X, formerly Twitter, that she was physically assaulted for exercising her First Amendment rights and expressed gratitude to law enforcement. She identified the attacker as a supporter of Abdul El-Sayed, a candidate in the Michigan U.S. Senate race. The incident took place shortly before Michigan voters were scheduled to choose between El-Sayed and Republican candidate Mike Rogers.
University of Michigan police confirmed they were responding to an unpermitted event when an officer witnessed the assault. The student was taken into custody, processed, and released pending warrant authorization. No injuries were reported in the incident, according to police. The New York Post has reached out to campus police for further comment.