OAKLAND COUNTY, Mich. – Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer called the attack at Temple Israel “antisemitism at its absolute worst” and said everyone has a responsibility to call out and lower this hateful rhetoric.
Whitmer spoke Friday at a press conference alongside U.S. Sen. Elissa Slotkin and other local leaders, one day after a suspect rammed a vehicle into the synagogue in West Bloomfield Township and exchanged gunfire with security personnel. The suspect died at the scene, and authorities are investigating the incident as a targeted act of violence against the Jewish community.
Read more --> What we know about the suspect in the West Bloomfield temple attack
You can watch the full press conference from Friday, March 13, 2026, in the video at the top of this article.
‘They were selfless,’ Whitmer says about security personnel
The governor began by thanking law enforcement agencies, first responders, and the synagogue’s security team for their quick response.
Whitmer praised the security personnel who confronted the suspect during the attack.
“They were selfless in their courage, and they saved lives,” Whitmer said. “These heroes threw themselves in harm’s way engaging the suspect.”
One member of the security team was knocked unconscious after the suspect drove through the synagogue. That person was taken to the hospital for treatment and is expected to recover.
Whitmer emphasized that the attack happened while children were inside the building.
“Let’s be very clear. Yes, this is a place of worship, but at the time this attack occurred, it was a school,” Whitmer said. “One hundred and four children, age five and younger, were here.”
She also thanked Temple Israel staff members who helped evacuate the children and reunite them with their families.
“I want Michigan’s Jewish community to know that we are with you,” Whitmer said. Violence in our houses of worship and in our schools and in our daycare centers, like this, hits especially hard."
hard.”
Pillar of the community
Whitmer described Temple Israel as a pillar of the community and one of the largest Reform Jewish congregations in North America.
She noted that the synagogue regularly draws more than 1,000 people to Friday night Shabbat services and hosts life events including bar and bat mitzvahs, weddings and holidays.
“It’s a place of peace, unity, light and life,” Whitmer said.
The governor called the attack antisemitic.
“It was hate, plain and simple,” Whitmer said. “We will fight this ancient and rampant evil, we will stand together as we do it, and we will call it out.”
Governor urges people to lower rhetoric of antisemitism
Whitmer also urged people to lower the rhetoric, saying inflammatory language can contribute to violence.
“We must lower the rhetoric in this state and in this country,” Whitmer said. “Especially at this moment where we’ve seen such a rise in antisemitism and more attacks in the Jewish community.
She said Michiganders must take responsibility for speaking out when they see hateful rhetoric.
“To recognize each of us has a responsibility,” Whitmer said. “People like the person that attacked this community yesterday get fomented by rhetoric that they see online and that they see on television and they hear on the radio. It radicalizes people, and it endangers our fellow Michiganders.”
Whitmer: Temple Israel attack was ‘antisemitism at its absolute worst’
When asked about people from different backgrounds working together to reduce hate and violence, Whitmer returned to the children who were inside the building during the attack.
“We are Michiganders,” Whitmer said. “This was a school. These are 0-5-year-olds that were targeted yesterday. One hundred and four.”
She said a friend told her the attack could have resembled the tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting.
“Let’s not lose sight of that,” Whitmer said. “This is not a political moment. This is not a political debate. This is targeting babies who are Jewish. That’s antisemitism at its absolute worst.”
Whitmer said the attack at Temple Israel underscores the need for people across Michigan to prioritize safety and be mindful of how they speak about issues and treat one another.