According to new reports, a black Trump supporter and legal immigrant from Togo living in Maryland claims to have been attacked over the weekend by two men in his neighborhood over his “Make America Great Again” hat, who he beat him and then stole his cellphone.
A spokesperson for the Montgomery County Police Department said the victim “who was wearing a red, ‘Make America Great Again hat,’ was approached by two men who began harassing the victim, and asking why he was wearing the MAGA hat.”
“The victim told the suspects that he was entitled to his own views, and kept walking away from the suspects,” said the spokesperson, who said “The suspects began striking the victim, and telling him to take the hat off.”
“The victim continued to be struck by the suspects until he fell to the ground” the spokesperson added. “The suspects then removed property from the victim, and destroyed items of value. The suspects then fled the scene.”
NEW: This Germantown, Md. man tells @ABC7News he was attacked Saturday in his neighborhood by two men all because he was wearing a ‘Make America Great Again’ hat.
The men punched the Trump supporter (a legal immigrant from Togo) in the head + upper body and tried to steal his📱. pic.twitter.com/BjRXbLjfXJ
— Kevin Lewis (@ABC7Kevin) April 15, 2019
Police arrested a 27-year-old and 25-year-old in connection to the alleged assault, charging both men with a series of crimes in relation to the case.
MORE: MoCo 🚔 have arrested 27yo Jovan Crawford of Gaithersburg, Md. and 25yo Scott Roberson of NW DC for the politically motivated assault. They each face 10+ years in prison.
The victim says he forgives his attackers, but hopes they become more tolerant of opposing viewpoints. pic.twitter.com/gYA0zKt0nF
— Kevin Lewis (@ABC7Kevin) April 15, 2019
WATCH: Police say two men attacked a U.S. citizen from Africa for wearing a 'Make America Great Again' hat in Germantown, Md.
The men allegedly pummelled the victim, shouted insults and destroyed his headphones. The victim told me he will continue to proudly wear his MAGA hat. pic.twitter.com/4lEDBpPrLH
— Kevin Lewis (@ABC7Kevin) April 16, 2019