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A Buffalo police officer appears to shove a man Mike Desmond/WBFO/AP via PA Images

'Cruel and reckless': NY governor slams Trump over claims about protester (75) who was hospitalised by police

The president attempted to cast doubt on footage showing police in the city of Buffalo shoving the man.

NEW YORK GOVERNOR Andrew Cuomo has heavily criticised US President Donald Trump after he claimed an incident in which a 75-year-old protestor was pushed to the ground by police may have been a “set up”. 

Trump has sided firmly with police over protesters who have taken to the streets across the country.

With his tweet, he attempted to cast doubt on video showing police in Buffalo shoving the man, who fell backwards and hit his head on the pavement. He is seen bleeding from his head as officers walk away.

Two Buffalo police officers have been charged with second-degree assault for the incident and could face prison sentences of up to seven years if convicted. They have pleaded not guilty.

The video is one of several that have emerged in recent weeks showing police using seemingly excessive force against protesters demanding justice and racial equality following the killing of George Floyd, a black man who died in police custody in Minneapolis after a white police officer pressed a knee into his neck.

“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?”

There is no evidence to back Trump’s claim, referencing a report on One America News Network, a far-right news channel.

Gugino, who is out of intensive care but remains in hospital, has been described by friends as a retiree and veteran peace activist driven by his faith and a desire for social justice.

He is involved with the Western New York Peace Centre and Latin American Solidarity Committee, said Vicki Ross, the centre’s executive director.

She said he has also been undergoing chemotherapy for cancer.

New York’s Democratic governor Andrew Cuomo has called on Trump to apologise for a “wholly unacceptable” tweet.

How reckless, how irresponsible, how mean, how crude. I mean if there was ever a reprehensible, dumb comment, and from the president of the United States.

“At this moment of anguish and anger, what does he do? Pour gasoline on the fire. Show some decency. Show some humanity. Show some fairness. You’re the president of the United States.”

Tweet by @The Recount The Recount / Twitter The Recount / Twitter / Twitter

Gugino’s lawyer, Kelly Zarcone, told the Associated Press that Trump’s accusations “are utterly baseless and ridiculous”.

She said her client “has always been a peaceful protester because he cares about today’s society”.

“No one from law enforcement has even suggested anything otherwise, so we are at a loss to understand why the president of the United States would make such dark, dangerous, and untrue accusations about him. We can confirm that those accusations are utterly baseless and ridiculous,” she said.

New York lieutenant governor Kathy Hochul, a Democrat, called Trump’s tweet “sick”.

“The President continues to use his platform to peddle conspiracy theories, this time about a peaceful protestor and fellow New Yorker. Not sure how this is supposed to bring our country together,” she tweeted.

Buffalo mayor Byron Brown, another Democrat, tweeted to Trump that “the City of Buffalo is laser focused on healing, taking action against racial injustice and building a good future for our residents. We pray for a full recovery for Mr Gugino and as I have repeatedly said, the two officers deserve due process”.

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    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute John Travers
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    Dec 13th 2015, 3:56 PM

    What was that about?

    144
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    Mute Michael Sands
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    Dec 13th 2015, 4:32 PM

    Creating talk by people to advertise themselves, like now on this site?

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    Mute NO 2 FF/FG/LAB
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    Dec 13th 2015, 4:41 PM

    You are supposed to create positive talk not confused talk

    31
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    Mute Paul Mc Manus
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    Dec 13th 2015, 3:56 PM

    What about the ‘FLUID’ people. Hey!!??? Hey!!??? Don’t they get a say? This country is so sexist lololol ;) ; )

    89
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    Mute Michael Sands
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    Dec 13th 2015, 4:38 PM

    You mean the alcoholics as they are full of fluid lol.

    35
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    Mute Len Brennan
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    Dec 13th 2015, 6:37 PM

    I thought gender fluid was a biohazard.

    17
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    Mute Pepper
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    Dec 13th 2015, 3:53 PM

    Easy to spot the gay fella. He’s the one decorating the tree.

    67
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    Mute Pepper
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    Dec 13th 2015, 4:02 PM

    And he has mistletoe in his back pocket.

    63
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    Mute NO 2 FF/FG/LAB
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    Dec 13th 2015, 4:18 PM

    If it was a game show called spot the gay fella I’d agree but it’s supposed to be an advertisement ?

    23
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    Mute Rasputin
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    Dec 13th 2015, 5:23 PM

    Surely it’s the lad sitting on top of the tree.

    25
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    Mute James Joseph Superior Power
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    Dec 14th 2015, 4:33 AM

    Easy to spot the fools.

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    Mute NO 2 FF/FG/LAB
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    Dec 13th 2015, 3:57 PM

    What in the flying **** did I just witness?

    57
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    Mute NO 2 FF/FG/LAB
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    Dec 13th 2015, 4:10 PM

    It’s a normal add plus all the sexual orientation comments but what are they doing there in the first place?

    16
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    Mute Michael Sands
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    Dec 13th 2015, 4:33 PM

    Depends what you were looking at lol. Sorry…

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    Mute Jack Bowden
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    Dec 13th 2015, 4:19 PM

    It’s a joke.

    56
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    Mute Michael Sands
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    Dec 13th 2015, 4:44 PM

    More like a Christmas tree dildo that man has in his hands?

    24
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    Mute IrishGravyTrain
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    Dec 13th 2015, 4:59 PM

    Marketing stunt that has worked. What is so confusing about that.

    47
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    Mute Mark Ryan
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    Dec 13th 2015, 4:36 PM

    Clearly dyas don’t recognise trans ppl… There should be a protest!! And they should apologise to asexuals… They are ppl too

    32
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    Mute NachoBusiness
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    Dec 13th 2015, 4:30 PM

    People really are not very bright these days. It’s called satire folks.

    24
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    Mute NO 2 FF/FG/LAB
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    Dec 13th 2015, 4:43 PM

    And such satire is confusing & not funny, or maybe I didn’t get it ?

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    Mute Michael Sands
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    Dec 13th 2015, 5:18 PM

    It is called angry satire?

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    Mute Alan McDonald
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    Dec 13th 2015, 6:24 PM

    I like it!

    17
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    Mute Mark Fitzmaurice
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    Dec 13th 2015, 4:12 PM

    Genius

    13
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    Mute NO 2 FF/FG/LAB
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    Dec 13th 2015, 4:19 PM

    Care to enlighten us?

    18
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    Mute Stibby
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    Dec 13th 2015, 4:25 PM

    Well it is an advertisement.. and advertising is what they got and alot of it..

    23
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    Mute Gerry O'Brien
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    Dec 13th 2015, 5:02 PM

    Mark Fitzmaurice! does Maurice Fit Mark?

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    Mute Michael Sands
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    Dec 13th 2015, 4:30 PM

    … And I’m going to burn in Hell, I mean I was born in Kells. lol…

    11
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    Mute TommyRyder
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    Dec 13th 2015, 6:56 PM

    Hahaha.
    Gay man in the tools section?
    Funniest joke I’ve heard in ages.
    Almost as funny as that time Brokeback Mountain ended up in the western genre.

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    Mute Lloyd Hetherington
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    Dec 14th 2015, 1:56 AM

    You’re easily amused, Tommy.

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    Mute James Joseph Superior Power
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    Dec 14th 2015, 4:28 AM

    You have the brains of a turnip Tommy. I worked on a building sites for years. OMG I must be straight. The horror I better get a job as a hairdedde fast.

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    Mute James Joseph Superior Power
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    Dec 14th 2015, 4:38 AM

    hairdresser

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    Mute TommyRyder
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    Dec 14th 2015, 6:02 PM

    A hairdresser James ?
    Kojak’s.

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    Mute James Joseph Superior Power
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    Dec 14th 2015, 10:14 PM

    Manscape Is probble more to your taste Tommy.
    It’s known in the biz as back, sack, and crack.

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    Mute jenine whyte
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    Dec 13th 2015, 5:34 PM

    Never heard of Robert Dyas but now I’m intrigued. Great advertising

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    Mute Jho Harris
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    Dec 13th 2015, 9:24 PM

    Well I wouldn’t set foot in their store, the staff are all a bit thick regardless of their sexuality.

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    Mute Michael cunnane
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    Dec 13th 2015, 7:24 PM

    My name is michael Caine.And I’m a nosey neighbour!

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    Mute Mike Howard
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    Dec 13th 2015, 8:07 PM

    Hi , my name is Randie, I just came out to my employer – a Catholic publication paper and now I’m out of s job – fancy that now

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    Mute Alan Mac
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    Dec 13th 2015, 6:10 PM

    Wtf

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    Mute Gaz
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    Dec 14th 2015, 1:50 AM

    Weird!!!!

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    Mute TheGateFlorist
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    Dec 14th 2015, 10:43 AM

    Do they sell self tapping screws

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