An art gallery owner who supports President Donald Trump said that he was beaten by a group who hated that he was wearing a “Make America Great Again” hat.
It’s the latest in a string of reported assaults of Trump supporters wearing the hat that dates back to when, as a candidate, the president introduced the gear emblazoned with his campaign slogan.
Jahangir Turan, 42, who owns the David Parker Gallery in New York City, said that he was en route to a meeting with a client when a group accosted him on Canal Street.
The group was composed of youths in their late teens or early 20s, Turan said.
“One girl flipped my hat, and within five to eight seconds, I got pushed from the back of my face, and my face hit the scaffolding pole. I got startled, I walked away,” he said.
That’s when the group began viciously beating him before one grabbed his head and smashed it against a pole.
Sporting a gigantic bruise on the left side of his face that encompassed his eye, Turan said that the attack was upsetting, adding he “felt sad because I feel the president is trying to do a good job and society just doesn’t understand.”
Turan said he almost immediately called the police but when officers arrived they did nothing despite the group still standing nearby. The New York Police Department said an asssault in the area was reported but that it didn’t have information on the victim or the alleged perpetrators.
“It’s kind of ridiculous to get beat up like this for wearing a hat,” Turan said, reported WABC.
He said that he may not wear the hat again.
“I love President Trump. I think he’s doing a great job,” Turan told reporters at a press conference.
“It’s sad to get beat up for wearing this hat. This is America,” Turan added. “It’s dangerous to wear a hat like this in New York City.”
Turan said he originally wasn’t planning to wear the hat but had just bought it that morning.
