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As Martin Gugino's friends defend him as being "funny and gentle," President Donald Trump offered a different narrative: the 75-year-old is an ANTIFA provocateur.
Gugino was hospitalized after two Buffalo, New York, officers pushed him during a demonstration following George Floyd's death outside City Hall on Thursday night. A video of the incident went viral and the officers, identified as Aaron Torgalski and Robert McCabe, were suspended without pay and charged with second-degree assault.
Gugino was identified as an activist and member of the Western New York Peace Center and Terrence Bisson, who met Gugino 10 years ago, told WKBW the 75-year-old is "funny and gentle." Some criticized Gugino for provoking officers by approaching them and called into question Twitter posts he penned with anti-police sentiments. Bisson said Gugino would "never shout or oppose someone," but would "ask questions if he thought something was not right."
Citing a One News America Network report, Trump posted on Twitter that Gugino was "pushed away after appearing to scan police communications to black out the equipment."
"I watched, he fell harder than was pushed. Was aiming scanner. Could be a set up?" Trump tweeted.
People were quick to dismiss Trump's claim that Gugino was a member of Antifa and several said that even if he was, it didn't change opinions on how the officers responded.
Kelly Zarcone, Gugino's attorney, told Newsweek that her client "has always been a peaceful protester because he cares about today's society."
"No one from law enforcement has even suggested anything otherwise so we are at a loss to understand why the president of the United States would make such dark, dangerous, and untrue accusations against him," Zarcone said.
The Buffalo Police Department initially claimed Gugino "tripped and fell," inciting outrage from people who called the statement out for contradicting what was seen in the video. While Mayor Byron Brown criticized the Buffalo Police Benevolent Association for being on the "wrong side of history" for a long time and being a "real barrier to reform," the police union defended the officers.
John Evans, Buffalo Police Benevolent Association president, told WIVB the "city put them in this spot" and created "conditions they cannot work under." Thomas Burton, an attorney with the Buffalo PBA who is defending McCabe, said he doesn't believe "either one of these officers are anywhere near guilty."
Burton called it a "real stretch" to suggest they "intended to hurt this man," when they were doing what "SWAT is designed to do and following their training." Gugino being injured was an "unfortunate outcome" but Burton said the officers didn't start out "trying to hurt someone."
Regardless of whether Gugino was violating curfew or refused to move, Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn, told reporters officers should have arrested him, not used physical force.
"You don't take a baton and shove him," he said. "That's what you don't do. You properly arrest him if he was committing a crime."
Torgalski and McCabe left the courthouse on Saturday to a round of supportive applause and cheers and the day before, 57 officers resigned from a volunteer assignment with the Emergency Response Team. The Buffalo PBA said in a statement that it was a show of support for the two suspended officers.
As of Monday, Gugino remained hospitalized and in serious but stable condition.
This article has been updated to include comment from Kelly Zarcone, Gugino's attorney.
About the writer
Jenni Fink is a senior editor at Newsweek, based in New York. She leads the National News team, reporting on ... Read more