Attorney General Nessel Visits Ferndale to Discusses Hate Crime Prevention Following Alleged Terror Plot
(Crystal A. Proxmire, Dec. 7, 2025)
Ferndale, MI – Last month people in Ferndale learned that three men arrested for allegedly planning a terrorist attack had visited the city, with the FBI speculating that it could have been a target.
And on Nov. 25 Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel hosted a town hall at Affirmations LGBTQ+ Community Center to discuss hate crimes and terrorism, including prevention, reporting, and prosecution. She was joined by LaDonna Logan of the Hate Crimes and Domestic Terrorism Unit.
Nessel created the Hate Crimes and Domestic Terrorism Unit so that the state could have the tools needed to prosecute crimes that go beyond the surface. “Assault is already illegal. Property damage is already illegal,” she said. But what differentiates a hate crime is “you’re not so much doing it to threaten or harm the individual so much as to intimidate or terrorize an entire community of people. So we have to treat it differently.”
No matter where a person lives in Michigan, the Attorney General’s office is there to help. “Not all [prosecutors] take that kind of thing seriously. Always make complaints to local law enforcement, but we are here as another venue and we will take your case seriously,” the Attorney General said.
Threats and hate crimes have been on the rise in Michigan. She mentioned the rise in crimes against marginalized groups, as well as “threats against public officials in on the rise, at all levels of government. Health workers, library boars, local councils are getting death threats.” People are even brazenly threatening judges, prosecutors, and sheriffs, Nessel said.
“Everyone has a First Amendment right to express themselves, but you’re not allowed to threaten to blow up a building or kill an official.”
The ability to prosecute otherwise lower-level offenses as hate crimes isn’t just about punishment, it’s about prevention. “If you can treat a less serious crime, that intervention, or taking that case seriously means getting that person in the court system, and getting mental health treatment.”
That’s why reporting harassment and hate crimes is so important. It’s also important to document and report other concerning behaviors. “Offensive comments and gestures and noncriminal behavior cannot be prosecuted, but can be documented so they hopefully don’t escalate,” Nessel said. Vigilance and speaking out can prevent tragedy.
“Over 50 % exhibit concerning behavior for over a year before they carry out their plot,” she said. Some things to be aware are of a person feeling like they may have been wronged in some way or embarrassed. They may express violent ideation. They may spend time researching past attacks, locations, and information about their targets. They may be collecting weapons or specialized clothing or equipment. They may even “probe” at the scene, doing things like calling in threats to see how the response goes, or hanging around suspiciously to see how security handles it.
“The path to violence is not always linear,” Nessel said. “There are these windows of opportunity where a potential criminal could be reached or stopped.”
In September 40 year old Thomas Jacob Sanford drove his truck into Church of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc Township, open-fired on congregants, and set the church on fire. “I talked to people who knew this man,” said Nessel. “Talk about there being signs. This man harbored hate so much to the LDS community… he talked about this all the time.” She shared that someone running for council had met Sanford while door knocking and that he’d gone on a half hour long tirade about the Mormon community.
“Is that a red flag?” she asked. “When we see people expressing themselves that way, what can we do to stop that?”
“If something happens and it scares you, you should call the police.”
“It’s natural for us to say ‘I don’t want to get involved,” Nessel said. “With Jacob Sanford, all these people now feel bad because they saw the signs and didn’t say something.”
In May 2023 Michigan passed gun safety legislation that allowed for Extreme Risk Protection Orders. Known as a “red flag law,” it means that someone may be deemed not to have “committed a crime but it’s not safe for them to own firearms. If they have said or done thing to show they’re not safe, the police can temporarily take their guns.”
She explained that it’s a temporary measure that helps prevent suicides and homicides. It has to be done in court and the person is allowed to contest it. The judge can require completion of therapy before the guns can be returned. It’s not a crime and the person does not face jail. “This gives a period of time for that person to get the help they need,” Nessel said. “ERPOs have saved countless lives so far,” she said, adding that even sheriffs and prosecutors who opposed the legislation are now using it to help keep people in their communities safe.
Another tool that can help prevent escalation is the Institutional Desecration Act which passed in 2023. With this, property crimes with the intent of intimidation can have harsher penalties. “Spray painting graffiti on a box car is a lot different that somebody spraying a swastika on a synagogue or burning a cross on a church lawn,” the Attorney General said. “Because of the nature of these crimes we thought they should be treated differently. A misdemeanor can now be considered more serious, and over $20,000 in damage can be a 10 year felony.” It also allows judges to put offenders on probation and to require counseling.
Nessel and Logan explained that if people are victims of harassment or hate crimes, they should not do anything to clean up or disturb a scene. For example, if there is graffiti, the police may be able to test it as part of their investigation. It’s also important to come forward quickly to make reports. The local police should be the first stop, but people can also reach out to the Hate Crimes and Domestic Terrorism Unit. For more information visit https://www.michigan.gov/ag/initiatives/hate-crimes-domestic-terrorism-unit
For more information about Affirmations, visit http://www.goaffirmations.org.
