Share on FacebookA New York City art gallery owner says he was attacked by a group of teenagers for wearing a red "Make America Great Again" (MAGA) hat.
42-year-old Jahangir Turan was walking down Canal Street in SoHo around 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday when he says someone hit him from behind, causing his face to slam into a metal scaffolding pole.
At a press conference on Thursday, Turan detailed the attack, saying a group of 15 to 18 people targeted him as he left the subway.
What Happened?
Turan explained that the incident started when one of the teenagers knocked his hat off while others yelled anti-Trump remarks.
"One girl flipped my hat, and within five to eight seconds, I got pushed from behind. My face hit a scaffolding pole. I was startled, but I walked away," he recalled.
His face was visibly swollen and bruised at the press conference, and he expressed frustration over the lack of arrests.
"It's kind of ridiculous to get beat up like this for wearing a hat," Turan said.
Fear of Political Violence
Turan said he had just bought the hat earlier that day at Trump Tower and originally planned to keep it in his home rather than wear it publicly.
He explained that he was well aware of the risks of wearing a MAGA hat in New York City but chose to wear it anyway.
"I love President Trump. I think he's doing a great job," Turan stated.
Despite the attack, he says he won't let fear silence his political beliefs.
Investigation Ongoing
As of now, no arrests have been made, and police continue to investigate the incident.
This incident raises concerns about freedom of expression and whether political divisions are leading to violence in public spaces.
Should people feel safe expressing their political views in public, no matter what side they're on?
