Veteran Assaulted in Sam’s Club for Wearing Trump Hat

A 67-year-old Hispanic Army veteran was assaulted as a result of his choice of apparel: a “Make America Great Again” hat in support of Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump.

The incident took place July 30 at a Sam’s Club in Brandon, Fla.

Ricardo Garcia told WTVT in Tampa that he was in the meat department of the store when he had to sneeze.

A gentleman standing to his side said, “Bless you.” Another man near him said, “I can not give you a blessing, because you’re wearing that stupid hat.”

Confused, Garcia asked, “What’s wrong with the hat?”

When the man remarked it was a Trump hat, Garcia said he jokingly told him the hat was his, not Trump’s.

WTSP reported the man said, “Ah, you go for Trump, I don’t like it.” To which Garcia responded, “Well, you can go for Hillary and I don’t like that, but that’s the way it is.”

Garcia then turned away from the man to avoid a confrontation, when he suddenly felt an impact to his head. The impact knocked the hat from his head and turned his glasses sideways.

Garcia said the man stood, staring at him, as if to say, “What do you want?”

The store manager was alerted to the incident and 911 was called.

Officers from the Hillsborough County Police Department arrived on the scene, where they located 36-year-old Patrick Marcus Mickens hiding in another aisle of the store.

After interviewing Garcia and Mickens, officers arrested Mickens and charged him with battery on an elderly person.

Mickens was later released on bond.

Garcia, who is originally from Puerto Rico, said he was privileged and honored to live in the U.S. “We should not be afraid to be in our country,” he said. (For more from the author of “Veteran Assaulted in Sam’s Club for Wearing Trump Hat” please click HERE)

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