75-year-old Man Pushed To The Ground By Buffalo Police Suffered Brain Injury, Lawyer says

According to NBC News, the 75-year-old man who was pushed to the ground during a protest in Buffalo, New York, has suffered a brain injury and is having to get used to “a new normal,” his lawyer said Thursday.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

The protest took place on June 4 outside of City Hall. A video went viral of social justice activist Martin Gugino being shoved to the ground. The video was one of the most-viewed acts of violence by the hands of police during the nationwide protests for the death of George Floyd.

The incident led to Gugino’s hospitalization and charges of second-degree assault and suspension without pay for Buffalo police officers Robert McCabe, 32, and Aaron Torgalski, 39. Both officers have since pleaded not guilty.

On Thursday, Kelly V. Zarcone, Guigino’s lawyer, said that she spoke with him, and he is feeling better and “starting physical therapy today, which is definitely a step in the right direction.”

Zarcone also said, “As heartbreaking as it is, his brain is injured, and he is well aware of that now.”

For this very reason, his lawyer said that he doesn’t want to do media interviews at this time, but he “feels encouraged and uplifted by the outpouring of support which he has received from so many people all over the globe.”