A 77-year-old military veteran was attacked outside of a post office in California. The man says that he was assaulted for wearing a “Make America Great Again” hat and “Back the Blue” mask.
77-year-old veteran attacked for wearing #MAGA hat in #RedBluff https://t.co/D1S8SGJciB
— KRCR News Channel 7 (@KRCR7) September 22, 2020
On September 18th, the man, who wishes to remain anonymous, was outside of a post office in Tehama County, California, when a man and a woman approached him and expressed contempt for his pro-police and MAGA attire. He described the attack to local news outlet KRCR-TV.
“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,” the veteran said.
“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 continued.
The veteran was transported to St. Elizabeth Hospital for treatment. He later sent a picture of his injuries to KRCR-TV, showing deep bruises, along with cuts and scratches from the beating.
Although it has been days since he was attacked, the veteran says he still experiences headaches.
Red Bluff Police have arrested Daniel Gomez-Martinez, 26, in connection with the attack. He is being charged with elderly abuse and battery. The woman involved in the attack has not yet been identified.
The veteran said that although he was blindsided by the attack, he still feels regret for allowing it to happen. “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.
“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,” the veteran added.
