A University of Michigan student was arrested Sunday after she was filmed shoving Jewish conservative influencer Lizzy Benichou to the ground and kicking her during a confrontation over Islam and women's rights in Iran. The attack unfolded on the university's Ann Arbor campus, where Benichou was participating in a conservative free speech event.
Video obtained by Mediaite shows the student arguing with Benichou before the exchange turned violent. The confrontation escalated when Benichou, a commentator associated with President Donald Trump's MAGA movement, questioned whether the student, who had a nose piercing, would be permitted to dress as she did in Iran.
A University of Michigan student attacks Jewish conservative influencer Lizzy Benichou during a confrontation on campus
"Am I wrong? If you walked around like this in Iran, what would happen to her?" Benichou asked, putting both hands in her pockets.
The student immediately dropped her phone, pushed Benichou to the ground with both hands and began kicking her. "Don't fcking talk to me like that!" she shouted as a young man pulled her away.
The student then broke free, removed her backpack and attempted to approach Benichou again. A police officer and another man intervened, with the officer eventually bringing the student to the ground and taking her into custody.
According to additional footage reported by the Daily Mail and New York Post, the confrontation continued as police escorted the student away. She allegedly shouted at Benichou: "I should've f**ing killed you when I had the chance."
A separate video recorded shortly before the assault shows the student confronting conservative activists at a folding table displaying signs that asked whether Islam was compatible with Western values. Another sign read: "Is Islam evil?"
The moment the student shoves Benichou to the ground before police intervene
The student accused the activists of promoting anti-Muslim views and challenged them over their presence on campus before approaching Benichou.
Benichou, who has approximately 60,000 followers across Instagram and X, had been scheduled to speak at an event addressing freedom of expression. Her X profile describes her as a "proud Jewish woman" alongside an Israeli flag emoji, while her profile picture shows her wearing a red Make America Great Again cap.
Taylor Sharp, Benichou's manager and CEO of the conservative youth organization Liberty Under Fire USA, told Mediaite that the influencer injured her lower back when she was thrown to the ground. He said she intended to file a complaint against the student.
University of Michigan police told the Daily Mail that officers responded to an event that had not received a permit shortly before 5 p.m. local time Sunday.
"As the group was packing up to leave, officers witnessed a University of Michigan student assault a woman not affiliated with the university," campus police said.
"The student was taken into custody, processed and released pending warrant authorization. No injuries were reported," police added. Their statement did not address the back injury described by Benichou's manager.
The student had not been publicly identified, and the available reports did not establish that Benichou's Jewish identity was the motive for the attack. The incident nevertheless drew widespread attention online after footage of the confrontation and arrest circulated on social media.