New York man accused of assaulting person for wearing ‘Trump 2024’ hat in supermarket

BATH, NY (TNND) — Police in a New York village on Friday arrested a man suspected of attacking a stranger for wearing a “Trump 2024” campaign hat, according to a news release.

The Bath Village Police Department said 60-year-old Robert Yott punched a person in the mouth several times at the Tops supermarket earlier in the day. The victim broke his teeth and left his mouth bloody, the agency noted.

Yott allegedly attacked the victim because he was wearing a “Trump 2024” hat. According to the statement, the suspect did not know the person he allegedly attacked. As a result of the incident, Yott was charged with second-degree assault and criminal mischief.

Last week, police in Florida said they arrested an 18-year-old who was wielding a machete outside an early voting location to anger voters with differing political views.

Caleb Williams and seven teens approached a group of people waving signs outside Neptune Beach before getting into an argument, according to the city’s police department.

“The group was there for no reason other than malice to cause disruption,” Neptune Beach Police Chief Michael Key Jr. said. “This is not just an incident about a first amendment right, but rather an incident where they were there to cause mayhem.”

Rep. Laurel Lee, R-Fla., in September urged people to tone down their political rhetoric following the second assassination attempt on former President Trump.

“Obviously we need to take this seriously, we need to take the threat seriously and we need to tone down that rhetoric as we move forward,” he said.

President Joe Biden also sought to “cool down” what he said had become “fiery” rhetoric in his address to Americans following the first assassination attempt.

“As the election approaches, we are all facing a testing period. The higher the stakes, the more heated passions become, Biden said. “This places an additional burden on each of us to never resort to violence, no matter how strong our beliefs.”

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