Historic university garden vandalized in apparent anti-Israel statement: 'Don't waste your tears'

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Reports indicate that numerous peonies at the University of Michigan were cut down in a vandalism incident, allegedly by at least one unidentified individual supporting the pro-Palestinian cause.

The W.E. Upjohn Peony Garden, a part of the Nichols Arboretum at the Ann Arbor campus, is recognized as North America’s largest collection of historic herbaceous peonies. According to The Associated Press, this garden features about 800 plants that bloom into 10,000 flowers at their peak.

However, about 250 – or one-third of them – were found Sunday morning with most of their flowers cut off.

The University of Michigan has experienced vandalism associated with anti-Israel sentiments before. In October, the residence of university President Santa Ono and its surroundings were defaced with graffiti, including the words “intifada” and “coward.”

Peonies in bloom

The DPSS is actively investigating the act. (AP Photo/Mike Householder)

The Upjohn Garden incident also transpired on the same day as an alleged terrorist attack on a pro-Israel demonstration in Boulder, Colorado, that left multiple people injured.

The suspect, Mohamad Sabry Soliman, “stated that he wanted to kill all Zionist people,” according to a federal complaint.

The DPSS is actively investigating the matter, which the school describes as a “criminal incident.”

A Public Affairs representative for the university declined to comment further on the incident when reached by Fox News Digital.

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