Trump tweets conspiracy theory about Buffalo protester shoved by police
Category: News & Politics
Via: flynavy1 • 4 years ago • 155 commentsBy: By Maria Caspani and Barbara Goldberg
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday tweeted a conspiracy theory about a 75-year-old protester in Buffalo who was shoved by police and critically injured during a march sparked by the death of George Floyd in police custody.
Citing a report by pro-Trump channel One America News Network, Trump wrote that the protestor, Martin Gugino, could be a member of the anti-fascist movement antifa, which the president and other Republicans have blamed for violence at the protests.
Trump offered no evidence of links between Gugino and the movement.
"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?" Trump tweeted.
His post appeared just hours before the funeral in Houston of Floyd, an African American who died on May 25 after a white police officer in Minneapolis pinned him with a knee to the neck for nearly nine minutes.
Two Buffalo police officers have been arraigned on felony assault charges after a viral video showed one of them shoving Gugino and the other walking past his still body after he fell to the sidewalk. As Gugino tumbles, his head strikes the pavement and trickles blood, according to the video.
Erie County District Attorney Erie County District Attorney John Flynn, who is prosecuting the officers, declined to comment on Trump's tweet about Gugino, who remains hospitalized.
Lawyers for the two officers as well as Gugino did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.
But New York Governor Andrew Cuomo jumped into the fray, saying he was "disgusted" by Trump's tweet and urged the president to apologize.
"He accused this man of being associated with antifa - no proof whatsoever. No facts, just an assertion," Cuomo said at his daily news briefing. "I mean, if there was ever a reprehensible, dumb comment, and from the president of the United States," said Cuomo, a Democrat.
"At this moment of anguish and anger what does he do? Pours gasoline on the fire....He should apologize for that tweet."
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And that's strawberry jam pouring from Martin Gugino's right ear....../s
Come on NT conspiracy theorists..... defend your saviors dumb-ass comment...!
The aging agitator got in way of the police who attempted to nudge him out of the way.
The old man, aka "Lurch", then proceeded to take a fall that should have won an Academy Award.
Act an idiot, take the consequences.
Comment on the topic of the conspiracy theory, not the man's balance.
Come on..... you know in your heat that Trump is right about this conspiracy theory he tweeted..... Just admit it!
And there it is.
POS birther POTUS and his brainless supporters believe that bullshit...
Its just this sort of total disregard for his fellow human beings that is causing so many Republicans to refuse to support Trump's re-election.
They don't like the actual reality so they invent their own.
Trump is so unfit for this office.
November can't get here fast enough to suit me.
the texas governor stated that elected officials that retweeted conspiracy theories were unfit for office
That will get the Texas governor's secret decoder ring taken from him.......
And it used to be more difficult to debunck their lies...when it was a casde of "he said, she said". But interestingly, technology has changed all that!
The impact of advancing technology on political views has been amazing-- throughout history in fact. And now things like body-cameras (at least when certain cops don't turn them off) and especially cell phone camerss--- is amazing!
I heard that Mr. Gugino has brain damage
I would say before he decided to walk into a police riot line, play stupid games win stupid prizes.
Well, while you may be a person who never makes stupid mistakes, everyone else is not as wonderful (and smart!) as you are.
But does that justify police brutally knocking an elderly person (unarmed and certainly no threat) to the ground?
Oh how cute. You think because he's elderly and unarmed is enough justification for him to be out after curfew and in position for this to happen.
That was pretty obvious when he ran up and poked the cop for some unknown reason.
I'd take bets both of you were cheering when he hit the concrete.....
But back to the topic... are you not backing of your savior's conspiracy statement about Mr. Gugino?
Come on..... you know you have to believe Trump on this one.......!
Projecting again,
You Democrats shouldn't be talking about conspiracy theories after spending millions trying to overturn a election.
What.... can't back your savior on this one, so plan "B" is to change the subject.
All you've got to say is that you back Trump's tweet! That can't be that hard for you.....
Who says he is my savior? Still projecting? I don't idolize anyone, Apparently you think you have to back whatever stupid thing your party does, pretty sad to go thru life without being able to stand on your own beliefs in my opinion. But hey, whatever floats peoples boats.
I don't have to say shit. I can laugh at people that can't think for themselves, that is much more entertaining.
Sooooo you're not going to back Trump's tweet?
You back him on everything else.... why not this one?
I do? More projecting. That speaks more of you than it does of me, pretty sad IMHO
It is pretty sad when people can't have their own opinion because of a ideology, I guess that's why they call them sheep.
Once again..... Is Trumps tweet accurate, or not KD?
It's sad neither of you can't answer a straight question...... Do you believe Trump's conspiracy tweet?
'That was pretty obvious when he ran up and poked the cop for some unknown reason.'
Funny how some see things that never happened.
They're the masters of deflection and projection.
They support the incompetent bumbling moron vicious hateful bully coward no matter what.
It's deplorable.
It's unfortunate that the 'president' has brain damage. What are/is his supporters' excuse(s)?
Moron in chief is an embarrassment to this country, sad that there are actual people that don't think he has ever done or said anything wrong and defend his actions no matter how reprehensible they are
Like what for instance? I don't care what he says as long as he is reelected...and Biden isn't
Like what for instance?
I'm glad we don't all have your driving sense of curiosity Greg...
If the guy wasn't coerced somehow to walk the wrong way into a "riot" police line he is just plain stupid and to touch a cop when tensions are high? 75 or not. He shouldn't have done what he did. Did that justify the push? Nope. They should have done what they did with the guy that came up with the sign. Subdue and cuff him.
As for the Trump tweet. Probably stupid, okay NOT probably, not a very damned good idea but when it happened, i had friends on both sides of the aisle that thought, in their words, "he was a plant to get attention and it backfired. Someone may have wanted the cops to confront him for photo ops". He screwed up. And I actually feel badly for the man and his injury Hopefully a full recovery is coming.
See, that didn't hurt at all now did it? Of course I've never known you to be a pusher of conspiracy theories either.
Play stupid games, win stupid prizes. That's what I always say
What's the stupid prize for today?
I could really use a large beach towel
How about a victory against Nazi racism....
I think we got one...somebody is missing in this seed
A drop in the bucket, but a start none the less...... We may need a bigger bucket before we're through.
Best regards Trout....
You, too, Fly! One more day until vacation!!!!!!!!!
Anywhere special if I can ask?
I am telling ya. I am not real big and don't eat that much.
Made me laugh with that! Got it!
Floriduh. We're celebrating my daughter's 5th wedding anniversary. My son has been married for 5 years, too, so we're going to celebrated his. Both kids got married on the same weekend
I'd take you if I could fit you in my suitcase
Enjoy. We are heading down that way early July for a few days. Cape Coral area.
We're going somewhere close to where my son lives and he lives in Navarre.
What evidence do you have that he touched the cop? Don't say it's in the video because it isn't.
They make up shit as they go along.
Look at the video a little bit closer.
Who do you think they'll believe?
Their own eyes or what CNN or MSNBC told them they saw?
You have got to be kidding.
Here look a little closer at the video:
Clearly the cop shoved him.
btw.. that is from a British paper.
someone on this thread suggested that the 75 year old man "rushed" the cops, even though he had presumably seen the video as well.
They will say whatever they have to or can to excuse this stuff, and after Trump suggested the old man is antifa now Trumps groupies have that motivation as well.
Sorry, but I didn't claim the cop didn't push him.
But the video I saw also showed the man approaching the cops, attempting to touch them with his phone or something.
Did you see the man walking away from the cops or something?
I am going to be completely political here for a minute....(shocking I know)
Biden spends time with Floyd's family. Consoling with them and listening.
trump tweets conspiracy theories from a man that use to work for a Russian government news organization.
Now who is fit to lead?
Political..... No.
Observant.....Yes.
Capable of walking and chewing gum..... Without a doubt!
Biden spends time with Floyd's family. Consoling with them and listening.
Hypocritically and obviously pandering for black votes.
Senile old Joe was never a leader, and never will be.
And your savior was tweeting this conspiracy theory pandering to his ignorant base.
Guess which one serves a greater good to the country. (I'm betting you get this one wrong too...)
Biden suffered horrible tragedy in his own life and knows what it's like to lose a loved one(s) suddenly. So yes, he was consoling them and listening. Biden is a leader, the impostor POTUS never was.
I wonder if he told them if they didn't vote for him they ain't black why'll wearing his Kente scarf?
Biden listen? Now THAT's a conspiracy theory.
This doesn't look like a shove to an old man?
You cant tell that it was a "soft" shove from that. If the individual pushing is strong he can push strong without extending his arm.
The cop spent less than 5 seconds with the man before he decided to shove him away. It's ridiculous.
Clearing the street of what? the camera pans both directions and sees what 3 people who weren't police?
There were no protesters there except for a few stragglers and reporters.
The 60 plus unit of Buffalo police and NG medics was ordered to move two blocks down.
There was nothing of import going on.
No reason the cops could not have been "serving & protecting" a citizen who was obviously asking something.
Riiiggghhhhttttt..... And the police report lied and said he tripped. No mention of shoving.
It’s fairly common for officers to lie in police reports, said Philip Stinson, a criminologist and professor of criminal justice at Bowling Green State University.
The old guy shouldn't have aggressively approached the line of cops.
This was a staged event, no doubt about it.
So you believe tRump's latest conspiracy theory tweet.
What a hoot!
It's a horrible tragedy that the police could have handled more humanely. On the other hand, this old man was an idiot to rush up to a crowd of riot police clearing an area. I won't say anyone deserves to be hurt this bad, but you have to be deeply stupid to try this shit he tried. Sometimes more than one party in a situation can do wrong things.
I don't know what Trump is talking about. The guy seems to forget he is president several times a day and tweets like some regular guy who's had a few beers too many.
what video did you watch?
The video where a dumb old man walked up to riot cops. They didn't walk up to him. Dummy approached the cop. Dumb, dumb, dumb.
I've been in a riot. You do not fuck with riot police. They are not there to have a fucking conversation. They are looking for an excuse to bash your head in with a baton. Mess with the bull, and you get the horns.
It's not nice. I don't endorse it. I'm just pointing out that real life is not always what we want it to be.
I'd love to know what video the tRump supporters watched.
Obviously a different version
So you've just explained tRump's thugs to a T.
Thanks!
What does any of this have to do with Trump? Do you imagine that cops started being bullies only when Trump took office? Please get educated.
Barr, tRump's consigliere wanted this
This is the Buffalo police. The AG of the USA doesn't have anything to do with this situation.
Sure he doesn't!
I mean he called anti-fa terrorists without any proof that anti-fa has anything to do with anything.
Cleared the area with tear gas and rubber bullets for the turd in chief's photo op.
Sure he doesn't!
You are free to supply evidence of this fantasy you have that involves the Attorney General commanding riot police in Buffalo. We'll all sit back and wait eagerly.
Not everyone has the capacity to understand that.
Some yahoos think the AG and the President have something to do with local decisions made by elected officials.
Makes one wonder what the hell the education system taught them--if anything AT ALL.
Seriously. Does anyone take Civics or Government in school? It's no wonder they get so cranked up about Hillary losing or are willing to elect a senile old invalid. It's no wonder they think Trump should have stopped the coronavirus everywhere in the world. They think the president can do anything he wants. Like Magic!
The senile old invalid is in the now White Trash House
(He is invalid as a human being and a 'president')
Actually, I don't think the police did anything wrong. I watched the video. Like you said, the guy approached police who were advancing to disperse the crowd. They were doing what they were supposed to be doing. The fact that the guy was 75 years old is irrelevant since no one is going to ask the guy "before we go any further, I need to know how old you are." The only relevant facts are those I just stated. A further relevant fact is that it doesn't look to me that the guy was pushed all that hard and I don't believe the police were intending the outcome that occurred. It seems obvious to me they were just trying to get him to back off from them, probably after being told verbally to back off.
The outcome was unfortunate, but I don't blame the police for anything. It is ridiculous that the cop was suspended for just doing his job. If a crowd won't disperse when given a lawful order to do so then there is no means other than force to enforce compliance. This whole thing is just retarded. The old man was entirely responsible for what happened to him.
Now, had the police intended to physically harm the man in that way, that would be another issue. I don't believe they intended any such thing.
Well, what is it...rushed or walked up?
I can't imagine why it would matter. What's the difference?
Trump puts the twit in twitter.
And the twat in twatwaffle.
Pass the syrup.
He didn't 'rush up' on the cop. Just STOP.
Martin Gugino is a native of New Buffalo. He has EVERY right to ask a cop a question and even demand an explanation for that officer's actions. Words do NOT justify physical violence from a cop.
I wonder if you realize that your statement implies that we should all realize that rather than protecting and serving citizens, police, especially in groups, are a danger to them.
Only if they do stupid shit. Get it yet?
Only he didn't do any stupid shit.
I only see tRump supporters guilty of that.
Why are you lying to yourself?
You stop.
Filed under "Shit That Doesn't Matter."
Not really. If police have declared an unlawful assembly and are sweeping the area to remove people, he doesn't have a right to refuse or argue with them. He also doesn't have a right to interfere with police in the performance of their duty. That's a crime in every jurisdiction in America.
But here is the really important part. Here is REALITY: Even if he did have such a right, it remains STUPID to run up to a group of riot police on the move and get in their way. Your rights don't mean shit when your head is bleeding out on the sidewalk. You want to argue for your rights? You don't do it to a cop. You do it to a judge.
I never said they did. If you READ, you'll see that I don't endorse what the police did. My comments are about common sense and staying the fuck alive. It has nothing to do with the law or anybody's rights.
I wonder if YOU realize that I have said something along those lines all over this site for a long time.
I'd say putting yourself in a situation where your head ends up bleeding on the sidewalk is pretty stupid. It probably would have been a lot smarter to just shout at the cops from say, 20 feet away. You can't get shoved if you don't put yourself within arm's reach.
He attempted to walk into a moving "riot police" line 10 minutes after the curfew took affect. I would say that was pretty damned stupid.
Make sure someone records it when you do. Thanks.
Why are you lying? About everything?
I say these thugs could have killed him.
He didn't any stupid shit.
That would be tRump and his hired goons.
Only stupid shit being done would be by tRump [deleted]
Still pushing that fantasy about hired goons and thugs??
LMMFAO!
Absolutely. Making his actions all the more stupid.
You do understand that this doesn't it's morally ok for cops to do what they did, right?
OK, you go run up to a group of riot police sweeping an area, and after you wake up in the hospital you can tell us all how smart that was. Geez!
There is no excusing these thugs.
Yet you never run out of them.
OK....so maybe he wasn't "rushing" up to the cop....he rapidly approached, and then he touched the cop who then shoved him. The fall was his own stupid fault.
This is somewhat similar to pointing anything at a cop...it might not end well for you.
[deleted]
Let's be crystal clear here Greg.... do you agree with the content of Trump's Tweet being valid?
"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?"
As simple yes or no will suffice.....
This is what this seed is all about.......
Since WHEN is doing stupid shit against the law? Get it yet?
I was talking to YOU.
No [Deleted]
He's a native and a taxpayer and BOTH of those matter. We sure as hell heard a lot of Governors/Mayors whining about 'outsiders' protesting in their states/cities.
Stupidity doesn't justify physical violence. IF he refused a verbal order they should have taken him into custody instead of physically assaulting him.
Based on the number of people that are KILLED before they ever see a judge, that's a piss poor avenue to justice.
THAT'S what all of this is about.
Ever protested Tacos!? Ever put your ass on the line for a principle? Hundreds of thousands of Americans have put aside 'common sense and staying the fuck alive' to make change happen during this nation's history. Very little has ever changed without it.
Then why do you disrespect those who get off their ass and try to DO something about it?
Not in this context, it doesn't.
No it doesn't. But what is justified doesn't change the level of stupidity. A man who pets a strange dog doesn't deserve to get bit. But if he does get bit, he kind of brought that on himself, didn't he?
That's certainly a way to go, but that policy would shut down any effort to clear streets. All you would have to do is put a crowd in the way and cops would have to stop and arrest them all. It's more efficient for police to push people like him out of the way. It also keeps more people out of jail, which is actually a good thing. If they want to continue to interfere with police, then they might get arrested.
What if 100 people walked up on the cops like this guy did? You want 100 people in jail? With arrest records that might impact their jobs or their future? With legal fees? What if it's a 1000? Wouldn't it be simpler to just give people a shove and send them home?
No one would care if this guy hadn't fallen down. If he just got shoved, kept his footing, and then walked away, no one would see police brutality.
I don't see any reason why this old man would have been killed before he got a chance to complain to a judge about the curfew.
Yes I have. And I was smart enough to do it in a way that did not leave me bleeding on the sidewalk.
Stupid is stupid. Pointing it out is not disrespect. You actually have no idea why this guy ran up to the cops or why he was on the street, but I doubt it was a cause that is best served by aggressively blocking the path of 50 cops. And the proof is in the pudding. If pudding equals skull blood pooling on a sidewalk.
I might agree with this man on important policing issues. In fact, I probably do. We can have that agreement and I can still be critical of his methods, but to appreciate that, you have to be willing to employ a little nuance in your analysis.
False.
The level of stupidity isn't the issue, the reaction to that stupidity by the cop is.
Right, because specially trained police units are equivalent to 'strange dogs'. /s
The video shows the very same unit taking a man with a sign into custody.
Fail.
The topic is about ONE man's interaction with a specially trained unit of over 30 cops. Your comment is merely a deflection.
Perhaps your protest was before authorities that respected your rights as a citizen. The special unit in New Buffalo obviously doesn't.
Naivety isn't stupid. Some people, especially those of a certain age, are naive and believe that police will actually uphold their oath to serve and protect.
He is an activist in the Christian Workers Movement and used to protesting under the wing of 'religious expression'.
You use of hyperbolic bullshit about 'aggressively blocking the path of 50 cops' merely reduces the credibility of your statement.
By 'nuanced analysis' do you mean labeling his methods as stupid?
You have had multiple chances to explain how his residency in that town has any legal significance when police are legally clearing a street. You have failed to do so. So, you declaration that the context is false is empty and unsupported. Time to face reality.
You can talk about that if you like, but that seems like a deflection. The discussion has been whether or not the old man's action was stupid. Disapproval of the cops doesn't change that.
Yes, they are, or I wouldn't have made the analogy. Police are trained to behave in specific ways in specific situations. They aren't granted to flexibility to make it up as they go. When you are faced with 50 riot police on the move, you are not dealing with a single, reasonable individual that you can talk to. The mass of officers is going to do what it set out to do and only a fool tries to block them.
The video shows the very same unit taking a man with a sign into custody.
No, it shows a bunch of cops grabbing him. We have no idea if he was taken into custody. In any event, most people would consider it better to be shoved out of the way than to be arrested. That's what cops were trying to do with the old man.
My comment is on topic and points out what your proposal would mean if extended to a larger number of people. I have no need to deflect anywhere.
I don't think you really know anything about their training, but I would bet it involves prioritizing getting people off the street and not having debates with them about whether or not it's a good idea.
Maybe it's also naive to assume that if police tell people to go home, no one will try to get in their way. Seems like people on both sides could reconsider what they should be doing.
Your hostile language is what destroys your credibility. If you wanted to discuss facts instead of being hostile, you could explain how he wasn't blocking them. I saw a man walk quickly up to moving cops and get in their way. That's how he got shoved. It's not like cops had to go looking for this guy or change their course to shove him. The old man is the one who initiated the confrontation.
"Nuanced" was defined for you in the very part of the comment you quoted.
Did you bother to read it? Or were you just triggered by my use of the word?
You are spending hundreds or thousands of words attempting to spin what we can all see with our eyes.
When the man approaches the two cops they stop walking. You would have a better argument if they acted like Robocop and just kept robotically moving forward. They stopped and momentarily listened to what he had to say. Then he made a gesture the one cop didnt like and the cop shoved him. He didnt shove the old guy out the way so the cop could keep moving, he shoved him out of the way because the cop was annoyed. Cops should not be shoving people with a full head of gray hair without a good reason. There is no good reason evidenced on that video.
If you are so confident in your analysis of what happened, tell us why Trump brought forth a conspiracy theory to explain why the cops were justified in knocking the old man down?
Why didnt Trump just say "they were clearing the street".
Why are you upset? You don't seem to even understand what I have been saying.
Just what is it you think I am arguing?
When did I ever say that what the cops did was ok? I said it was to be expected. I also said I didn't endorse it. Read @9.1.1.
Indeed.
I have no idea. What Trump does has no impact on my ability to think for myself. My analysis of the video has zero connection to Trump. Peddle your obsession elsewhere.
lol
you defend his every breath but won't admit it
whatever
What was even more outrageous was that another cop who tried to help the unconscious bleeding man was stopped from doing so.
Why lie? You just tried to get me to defend him and I wouldn't do it. How easily you ignore the truth right in front of you!
Actually I DID explain the significance, you conveniently ignored it.
Nope. YOU characterized 'the old man' as an idiot and said what he did was stupid and that he was stupid. My argument is that YOUR characterization is wrong and wrong headed.
Your attitude seems to be that American citizens should flee for their lives from riot cops. So much for the land of the free and the home of the brave.
I'm basing my comments on the statements from the Police Chief and the Mayor about their training. WHATEVER their training is, their FIRST priority should be the safety of the citizens they are supposed to be serving. Asking a question isn't entering into a debate.
I think that you are confusing cogency with hostility.
Right after you explain how ONE 'old man' can block 50 riot cops.
So now you see that he didn't rush up on the cops and block them. We're making progress.
He got shoved because of a hot headed cop who forgot WTF his oath was all about.
Yes. Your critique has continued to be about his intellect.
Only if they care about not having their skulls split open. But hey, if you don’t care, then by all means, carry on!
I totally agree and have never said otherwise. It should be that, but it’s often not - especially in that particular scenario. Therefore, I think a prudent person is more careful.
Apparently he can’t cuz he gets shoved or rolled over.
Arguing over vague terminology serves no purpose. He intentionally got in their way - an act they would inevitably take as a challenge. That’s the point.
People get shoved all the time without falling down and cracking their head on the pavement. Do you think the cop intended for this guy’s skull to open?
It’s all about the intelligence to preserve your own life through sensible behavior. If you think he was being smart, it might be fascinating to see you try to explain how his actions were smarter than other available options, e.g. keeping his distance and simply yelling at officers.
Pffft....he can't even decide if the man walked or rushed up.
So your characterization was wrong. Good to see you admitting it.
It's YOUR 'vague terminology', not mine.
Irrelevant.
That's an ironic question from someone who has chosen to characterize 'the old man's' as stupid, aggressive, a fool and claimed that his intent was to block, stop, debate and confront the cops.
Oh and there's the fact that you called for a nuanced analysis and stated:
So your think that 'the old man' should have been 'prudent' but the riot cops have no such predicate. Why the double standard?
You've made it clear that your posit is that riot police are a danger to American citizens. By YOUR standard, NO 'intelligent' American would dare to avail themselves of their Constitutional right of 'peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress'.
Lucky for us, throughout our history, untold numbers of 'intelligent' Americans have chosen to do so, even with an overt threat to life and limb. That continues today.
Do you think that makes a difference. Why try to split such an inconsequential hair?
No. I'm perfectly comfortable with my characterization of the event.
And we're back to the childish attitude of trying to make this about some kind of contest. How dumb.
You're the one who cares about it.
Why?
It was a direct question that you apparently refuse to answer.
You are misrepresenting what I have said again. I never said the cops should not be prudent, so there is no double standard. I have said over and over that I don't endorse what the cops did, but that an intelligent person knows to expect it. Is it really so hard for you to grasp this concept?
Indeed. They are a danger to rioters and any innocent bystanders who happen to get to close - either intentionally or even accidentally. It is an extremely dangerous situation. Only a fool would rush toward conflict in that scenario.
That's absurd. You are describing a completely different scenario. Peaceful assembly and petition for redress are completely different from putting yourself physically in the path of an advancing phalanx of armed riot police.
Which one?
As I said, I see no difference. Only people interested in divisiveness need to see difference. So keep laughing.
Mr. Spin Doctor spins as usual.
It's nauseating and deplorable and so tiresome