The Michigan Chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) declared Wayne State University as a hostile campus for free speech Monday, August 25. 

The announcement comes in response to how the institution handled a series of protests against Israel’s attacks on Palestinians in Gaza. 

CAIR Michigan Executive Director Dawud Walid accused Wayne State of systemically silencing the free speech rights of students.  

“Students should be able to freely raise their voices without fear of not just simply being doxed, but administrative and even law enforcement measures taking place against them while they are attending a university that they paid tuition for and a place that's supposed to be a haven for liberal arts education.” 

Wayne State said in a statement it’s committed to supporting free speech, as long as conduct on campus does not violate any laws or disrupt university operations. 

Additional headlines for Tuesday August 26, 2025

• The United Nations General Assembly has dedicated August 27 to persevering, celebrating and sustaining lakes around the world. Suggested activities include learning about preservation, conservation, and restoration activities. Find resources on EGLE’s website or Facebook page to learn more.
• The Secretary of State’s office announced the “It’s Sooo Simple” campaign to highlight ways to access mobile services. Many of the department’s services can be accessed online, by mail or through self-service stations. Some of the stations are located in Michigan Secretary of State offices, Krogers and Meijers stores with nine language options. People can find an office by going to michigan.gov/sos online or calling 888-767-6424.
• Applications close tomorrow August 27 for the City of Detroit’s Department of Neighborhoods Youth Affairs Team. The program is for Detroit residents 18-25 years old to explore the city government agencies.
• Cisco is hosting a 2025 Community Innovation Challenge to help promote social impact. Students will pitch their ideas to a panel of judges for the chance to earn a $10,000 prize. Participants will be invited to attend a virtual Program Launch call in September if they win. 

Do you have a community story we should tell? Let us know in an email at detroiteveningreport@wdet.org.