#Martin Gugino, Buffalo man pushed by police, is long-time peace activist

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Martin Gugino, who was pushed to the ground by Buffalo police, is seen in 2017.
Justin Norman / Shrieking Tree

Martin Gugino — the 75-year-old man who was shoved to the ground by Buffalo police in a video seen by millions — is a long-time peace activist and “gentle person,” according to friends.

The resident of Amherst in Erie County is a member of the People United for Sustainable Housing Buffalo and anti-nuclear group Kings BayPlowshares, the Buffalo News reported.

“He’s a gentle person who really believes that he must stand up for what he thinks is right,” said Gugino’s pal Terrence Bisson. “That’s why he went to the demonstration. He would never resist physically any kind of orders. He’s a bit frail, not because of his age. He has some health problems.”

The two have worked together at the Western New York Peace Center on Latin American issues.

In the now viral video taken Thursday shortly after Buffalo’s curfew went into effect, Gugino approaches Emergency Response Team officers dressed in riot gear. One of the officers shoves Gugino, causing him to stumble backward and fall. As a stream of officers approach, the back of his head hits the pavement and blood begins to trickle out.

One officer appears to try and help Gugino but he’s pushed along by another, the video shows. Prior to the encounter, Gugino can be seen with his cell phone in his right hand and what appears to be an ERT helmet in the other.

The disturbing footage has racked up more than 67 million views as of Friday afternoon. Two ERT cops have been suspended pending an investigation, while all 57 ERT officers have resigned from the team. They still remain employed.

A Buffalo native, Gugino worked in computer technology in Cleveland before returning to the area to do activism work, according to the Buffalo News.

Gugino’s Twitter page is filled with recent posts about the George Floyd protests and civil unrest that have broken out across the country.

On Thursday, he tweeted about the curfews implemented in various cities in response to protest violence and looting.

“Protests are exempt from curfews because Congress (and mayors) may make no laws that abridge the right of the people peaceably to assemble and complain to the government,” Gugino wrote. “The government should receive the complaint with thanks, not arrest the people or beat them.”

Gugino also runs a YouTube channel, which features a video from January in which he discusses the Second Amendment. Buffalo News said the channel had just 35 subscribers — but now it boasts more than 1,000 in wake of the shoving incident.

Another friend, John Washington, told The Post that Gugino is known as someone who “always shows up” at protests in Buffalo.

“He’s been at every important protest in Buffalo in the past 10 years,” said Washington, who worked with Gugino at PUSH Buffalo for years.

“He’s got a youthful spirit despite being 75,” Washington added. “He usually walked up with a smile and an awkward joke, but also had a deep analysis of what’s wrong in the world and a passion for fighting those things.”

Gugino is in serious but stable condition at the hospital.

A GoFundMe page has been set up to collect funds for his medical bills and legal fees.

“He felt the brutality that our black and brown folks in Buffalo feel from the police on a daily basis,” Washington said about Gugino being pushed by cops.