After watching the video of the Buffalo Police Department’s encounter with 75-year-old Martin Gugino, in which two officers shoved Gugino, who then hit his head on the concrete, it’s difficult to imagine that anyone could find an excuse for what had transpired.
Enter Donald Trump.
The president of the United States is now promoting a conspiracy theory that claims Gugino was an “ANTIFA provocateur” attempting to disarm the police officers’ communication systems. Those pushing this theory have also argued that Gugino intentionally hit his head on the concrete to frame Buffalo police officers and advance “the police brutality narrative.”
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?
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 9, 2020
Bear with me for a moment. Let’s say Trump is right and that Gugino was an agitator. Many have already pointed out that Gugino’s Twitter account featured anti-police sentiments, so perhaps he really was looking for a conflict. Even if all of the above were true, the two officers who were fired from the Buffalo Police Department would still be in the wrong.
Law enforcement should always use the least force necessary to get the job done. Especially in tense situations, such as protests, our police officers should focus on defusing conflict rather than exerting force unless there is an urgent threat that officers cannot ignore.
In this case, the two officers in question chose to exert force when it was not necessary. Gugino did not pose an urgent threat. He was not holding a weapon. He was not acting in an aggressive manner. And even if he was trying to “black out” officers’ communication capabilities, officers could easily have handled the situation without throwing Gugino to the ground.
Watch the video for yourself:
Just about an hour ago, police officers shove man in Niagara Square to the ground (WARNING: Graphic). Video from: @MikeDesmondWBFO pic.twitter.com/JBKQLvzfET
— WBFO (@WBFO) June 5, 2020
Bad actor or not, Gugino was a victim of police brutality. And it is shameful that the president is using his office to excuse or justify what happened to him. We as a nation need to stand up to law enforcement when it oversteps its bounds, and if Trump cannot lead us in that effort, the public will find someone else who can.
