Michigan State Rep Calls for Hate Crime Investigation After Delta College Student's Anti-Muslim Rant

State Representative Mai Xiong is calling for a hate crime investigation after a Delta College nursing student posted a video containing explicit threats against the Muslim community on social media, ABC 12 WJRT-TV reported.

The video, featuring a woman from Saginaw County, captures the individual expressing intense anger over recent election results, specifically the Senate race won by Abdul El-Sayed.

In the footage, the woman directed violent rhetoric toward Muslims, stating, “If I see a (expletive) Muslim come knocking on my (expletive) window in the middle of (expletive) Saginaw, they are getting (expletive) killed, I swear to God. I will hit them with my (expletive) car.”

Xiong, who represents Michigan’s 13th House District in Macomb County, expressed deep alarm upon seeing the post. The representative, who was born in a refugee camp in Thailand and maintains family ties in the Saginaw area, believes the specific nature of the threats warrants a criminal response.

“I was very upset, and also very concerned, because this person made some very specific and very explicit threats,” Xiong told ABC 12 WJRT-TV.

The representative is currently urging law enforcement agencies in the Saginaw area to investigate the footage. She suggested that if the investigation finds the threats warranted, the individual should face arrest and charges related to a hate crime.

Delta College faces backlash over institutional response

Delta College issued a statement to its students and staff regarding the incident, though the school noted it could not disclose the current status of the student involved. The institution’s response emphasized that freedom of speech and expression includes viewpoints that may be offensive or contrary to institutional beliefs.

This stance triggered immediate criticism from the community. Social media users reacted to the college’s position with comments accusing the institution of encouraging racism and violence, with some calling the school’s response “disgusting” and “shameful.”

Xiong expressed dissatisfaction with the college’s messaging, arguing that the official statement failed to foster a sense of safety or inclusivity for the student body.

The incident highlights the growing tension between protected speech and the legal boundaries of targeted threats. While the First Amendment provides broad protections for unpopular opinions, legal experts often distinguish between “hate speech” and “true threats,” the latter of which can lead to criminal prosecution if they communicate a serious intent to commit an act of unlawful violence.

The student’s apology and plea for privacy

The woman at the center of the controversy reached out to ABC 12 WJRT-TV to issue a formal apology and ask for forgiveness. In her statement, she acknowledged the harm caused by her words and took accountability for the situation.

“I am not going to sit here and pretend that I have handled every situation perfectly. I am human, I make mistakes, and I am taking accountability for the hurt I have caused,” she said in a statement provided to ABC 12 WJRT-TV.

She offered apologies to the Muslim community, stating that no community should feel unwelcome because of her comments. She also extended apologies to her former employers, coworkers, Delta College, and local law enforcement for the disruption and unwanted attention the video has generated.

However, the student also addressed the fallout from the video, noting that the public exposure of her personal information and the contact of her family members had gone beyond a simple disagreement.

“I am also trying to navigate an important chapter of my life, and I refuse to let the negativity surrounding this situation take away from that,” she said, requesting privacy to focus on her family and her future.

As of now, it remains unclear which specific agency would lead an investigation should a formal complaint be filed. Neither the Saginaw County Sheriff’s Department nor the Michigan State Police have been contacted regarding the social media post, according to ABC 12 WJRT-TV.

Xiong concluded by framing the controversy as a potential moment for community growth, encouraging parents to discuss responsible social media use with their children to ensure digital platforms are used for good rather than for spreading hate.