That political connection, however, has not been independently established, and authorities have not publicly confirmed the woman’s political affiliation.
According to footage and accounts of the incident, the disagreement centered on Islam, Western values, and the treatment of women in Iran.
Benichou challenged the woman with a question about whether she would enjoy the same freedom to dress and express herself if she lived under Iran’s Islamic government.
The exchange became increasingly hostile before the situation erupted into violence.
At one point, the woman abruptly charged toward Benichou, shoved her forcefully to the ground, and appeared to continue attacking her. Several people rushed forward in an effort to separate the two women and prevent the confrontation from escalating further.
The disturbing footage shows bystanders struggling to restrain the woman until campus police intervened.
What followed was another explosive scene.
As officers attempted to take the student into custody, she resisted and continued shouting profanities. Rather than showing remorse for the physical confrontation, she appeared to openly acknowledge striking Benichou.
“What the fck are you going to do to me because I hit a fcking dumb ass b*tch in the face?” she said.
The woman’s behavior became even more alarming as officers escorted her toward a police vehicle.
She continued directing vulgar insults toward Benichou before making a particularly disturbing statement.
“You stupid fcking cnt!”
She then shouted directly at the conservative activist:
“I should have fcking killed you when I had the fcking chance!”
“I’m not kidding you. F*ck you,” she added.
The threats, captured in the circulating footage, have drawn considerable attention online, particularly because the confrontation reportedly began as a disagreement over political and religious issues.
Another exchange during the arrest also attracted attention.
As the woman continued shouting, a bystander yelled, “go to a mental hospital b*tch.”
The woman responded:
“I’ve already been to a mental hospital, and I’ll go again!”
The University of Michigan Police Department subsequently confirmed that officers had witnessed an assault involving a university student and a woman who was not affiliated with the institution.
According to the department’s statement, officers were responding to an event that had not received university authorization shortly before 5 p.m. Sunday.
“As the group was packing up to leave, officers witnessed a University of Michigan student assault a woman not affiliated with the university,” police said.
The student was taken into custody, processed, and subsequently released pending warrant authorization.
Police also indicated that no injuries had been reported to them. However, Taylor Sharp, Benichou’s manager, told Mediaite that the activist suffered a lower-back injury during the incident and intended to pursue criminal charges.
The conflicting accounts regarding injuries underscore the importance of allowing the investigation and any subsequent legal proceedings to establish the full circumstances.
Meanwhile, Benichou addressed the incident publicly, reassuring her followers that she was safe.
Rather than backing away from public appearances, she indicated that the confrontation would not prevent her from continuing to speak about the issues she considers important.
“I’m okay. This is what happens when you dealing with leftist radicals,” Benichou wrote.
Her response quickly circulated among conservative commentators, many of whom pointed to the incident as another example of how political disagreements can deteriorate into physical confrontations.
The episode also comes amid heightened political tensions in Michigan, where Abdul El-Sayed is competing against Republican Mike Rogers in a closely watched Senate contest.
Although Higby identified the alleged attacker as an El-Sayed supporter, there has been no independent confirmation that she has any formal relationship with the campaign. No evidence has established that the candidate or his campaign had any involvement in Sunday’s altercation.
Nevertheless, the footage raises legitimate questions about the treatment of political speakers and activists who venture onto university campuses to challenge prevailing opinions.
College campuses are supposed to provide an environment where competing ideas can be examined, questioned, and vigorously debated. Disagreement over religion, foreign governments, or political ideology should never become an excuse for physical aggression.
The First Amendment protects the right to express unpopular opinions, and that protection means little if individuals cannot participate in public discussions without fearing an attack.
For Benichou, the confrontation has apparently not changed her willingness to continue engaging with students and discussing controversial subjects.
For the university community, the incident is another reminder of the importance of protecting open debate while holding individuals accountable when disagreements cross the line into violence.
What began as a discussion about freedom and women’s rights in Iran ended with an arrest, an alleged physical assault, and a threat that has since reverberated across social media.
The investigation and any potential criminal charges will determine the legal consequences for the student involved.
