Man Arrested in Brutal Attack on 77-Year-Old Veteran Wearing a MAGA Hat
A 77-year-old veteran who survived the war in Vietnam became a casualty of America’s political hate last week when he was attacked at a California post office while displaying his support for President Donald Trump and America’s police.
The attack happened Friday at the Red Bluff, California, post office, according to KRCR-TV, which spoke with the victim but kept his name out of its report.
The man said he was wearing a “Make America Great Again” hat and a “Back the Blue” protective mask when a man and woman approached him.
The woman began the confrontation, he said.
“She looked at me and she goes, ‘We just don’t like people like you.’ Just kind of got shocked a little bit and said, ‘Well, that breaks my heart,’ and no more sooner out of my mouth, I get hit on the left side of my head. “
He said the man did not leave it there.
“Then somehow he got me in a headlock and started pounding me on top of my head … I got blood all over the place and I’m trying to figure, you know, where’s my hat, where’s my package?” he said.
77-year-old veteran attacked for wearing #MAGA hat in #RedBluff https://t.co/D1S8SGJciB
— KRCR News Channel 7 (@KRCR7) September 22, 2020
An ambulance was called for the man, who was treated for cuts on top of his head and later released. Three days later, when he spoke to the local TV station, he complained of headaches from the incident.
The man who hit the veteran left the post office after the incident, but officers who responded were able to later arrest him, Red Bluff police said, according to KRCR.
Daniel Gomez-Martinez, 26, was charged with battery and elder abuse.
77-year-old military veteran attacked in Red Bluff, California for wearing ‘Make America Great Again’ #MAGA hat in support of President @realDonaldTrump. 26-year-old man, accused of attack arrested for battery, elder abuse.
FULL DETAILS: https://t.co/CJ5tyvogTf pic.twitter.com/B4sw9IrgtM
— Preston Phillips (@PrestonTVNews) September 23, 2020
This latest attack on a Trump supporter made many on Twitter express their anger.
I’d like to see this piece of crap try hitting someone his age for wearing a maga hat… this IS a hat crime. Clearly. How big of a story would it be if an old black dude wearing a BLM hat got beat up by a younger white guy?
— Jason Jones (@jonesy2316) September 22, 2020
I’m so sick of this happening. https://t.co/wW1tCx6T49
— Carlos Madrigal (@ThinkMadrigal) September 22, 2020
The veteran said he should not have been taken by surprise.
“I just feel kind of bad, seven years in the military, Vietnam veteran and 30 plus years in law enforcement and you’re always taught situational awareness. And this guy came out of … I never saw it coming,” he said.
Above all, he said, he was stunned by the hatred and intolerance that sparked the confrontation.
“I was so shocked for the hate that people have, you know. I don’t hate them. I never met them. I just can’t believe they would do something like that,” he said.
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