#Protester Martin Gugino recovering at ‘undisclosed location’ amid death threats

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Martin Gugino lays on the ground after he was shoved by two Buffalo, New York, police officers during a protest against the death in Minneapolis police custody of George Floyd in Buffalo, New York
REUTERS; Facebook

The elderly protester who suffered a brain injury after being shoved to the ground by Buffalo police officers will not return home upon his release from the hospital because of threatening messages he’s received, his lawyer said Thursday.

Martin Gugino, 75, has received “concerning and threatening messages and one letter,” since two police officers pushed him to the ground earlier this month in an incident captured on a now-viral video, lawyer Kelly Zarcone said.

“It is not clear that these are credible death threats,” she added. “In order to avoid the risk, Martin we’ll be recovering in an undisclosed location when he is released from the hospital. We do not expect that to happen for a good week so things could change.”

Police officers Robert McCabe and Aaron Torgalski were suspended from the department and hit with assault charges for shoving Gugino, a longtime Catholic peace activist. They’ve both pleaded not guilty.

The video has sparked outrage and debate across the US, with President Trump weighing in to repeat an unsubstantiated claim that Gugino may have been an Antifa provocateur.

“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,” the president said in a tweet.

“I watched, he fell harder than was pushed. Was aiming scanner. Could be a set up?” added Trump, who was citing a report by the conservative news outlet OANN.