Trump Must Apologize to Martin Gugino
Donald Trump must apologize to Martin Gugino.
Gugino is the 75-year-old protestor who was knocked down by police at a protest in Buffalo last Thursday.
Video of the incident shows Gugino approaching a police line, speaking while gesturing with his cell phone. Two officers shove him backward. He falls flat on his back and hits his head on the pavement. The phone falls out of his hand, but he is otherwise unresponsive as he bleeds from his head.
The two officers hesitate but are urged ahead by others. A third officer appears to call in a request for aid, and others step up to provide it.
Gugino was seriously injured and remains hospitalized. The two officers were suspended without pay and later charged with felony assault.
Blindly following conspiracy theories floated by One America News Network, Trump tweeted this claim:
“Buffalo protester shoved by Police could be an ANTIFA provocateur. 75 year old Martin Gugino was pushed away after appearing to scan police communications in order to black out the equipment. @OANN I watched, he fell harder than was pushed. Was aiming scanner. Could be a set up?”
Many sources describe Gugino as a longtime peace activist and member of the Catholic Worker Movement who works at food kitchens and other outreach missions.
He was not trying to “scan” police communications. He fell hard because he was pushed hard, and unexpectedly. He was not affiliated with antifa, a group that exists mostly in Trump’s head. Trumps tweet is a vile lie.
Trump should apologize for spreading vile conspiracy theories and for slandering Martin Gugino. He will not apologize, of course, because he does not have the guts or integrity to ever admit that he is wrong about anything. This man is not a leader. He is a virus.
