KISS frontman Paul Stanley has condemned U.S. President Donald Trump’s tin-foil hat theory that a 75-year-old man that was filmed being pushed by a Buffalo police officer during a Black Lives Matter protest was an ANTIFA stunt.
On Tuesday, June 9th, the president tweeted a conspiracy theory that the protestor who was assaulted by police officer was an ANTIFA (anti-fascist) agitator. Trump, without evidence, theorised that the confrontation between the protestor and the police may have been a “set up”.
“Buffalo protester shoved by Police could be an ANTIFA provocateur,” Trump wrote. “75 year old Martin Gugino was pushed away after appearing to scan police communications in order to black out the equipment. @OANN I watched, he fell harder than was pushed. Was aiming scanner. Could be a set up?”
Martin Gugino, the man who was pushed, has been described by those who know him as a peace activist fueled by social justice. He has ties with the Western New York Peace Centre and Latin American Solidarity Committee. Gugino is out of the intensive care unit but remains hospitalised from the injuries sustained following his altercation with the police.
The two Buffalo police officers that were involved in the incident have been charged with second-degree assault — a charge that carries a potential prison sentence of up to seven years if convicted. They have both pleaded not guilty.
Paul Stanley took to Twitter to lambast the President’s claims that this was a tactical ruse as “despicable.”
“To have the President of the United States spewing this lunacy is more frightening than despicable,” Stanley wrote in a since-deleted tweet. “WE are better than this. In case some of you didn’t hear previous ones, consider this your wake up call.”
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Following the removal of the Tweet, Stanley tweeted an explanation: “I have taken down my most recent tweet purely because I see it can never be the source of true conversation or exchange of views. Rather than incite a situation where there can be no real ‘back and forth’ I hope everyone finds clarity for their views, lives morally and votes!”
I have taken down my most recent tweet purely because I see it can never be the source of true conversation or exchange of views. Rather than incite a situation where there can be no real “back and forth” I hope everyone finds clarity for their views, lives morally and votes!
— Paul Stanley (@PaulStanleyLive) June 9, 2020
