Teenager wearing Trump shirt charged with punching Harris supporter, 70

The boy, 17, who was wearing a shirt bearing an image of Trump extending his middle finger, was part of a group antagonizing ralliers, the woman said.

www.tcpalm.com

With election day just three days away, a teenager and apparent supporter of former President Donald Trump was arrested here Saturday at a rally in support of Vice President Kamala Harris and charged with punching a 70-year-old woman in the stomach.

A 17-year-old boy — wearing a T-shirt featuring an image of Trump raising his middle finger in front of an American flag background — punched the Harris supporter, knocking her off her feet, according to police and the woman, Stuart resident Kathleen Tomasko.

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The 17-year-old was arrested once police, hired by the event organizers, arrived on the scene at the north end of the Roosevelt Bridge on U.S. 1. He was charged with battery on a person 65 years of age or over, according to Stuart Police Department spokesperson Brian Bossio.

"Several people pointed out a male who was walking away from the area as someone who battered or struck a woman. I was able to go get the guy, walk him over to the car and detain him," Bossio said.

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According to witnesses, Bossio said, the 17-year-old was walking away from a separate altercation with a male Harris supporter when he struck Tomasko and knocked her to the ground.

Tomasko said she did nothing to provoke the 17-year-old and she did not hear him say anything to her. In fact, she didn't even see him coming, she said.

"I'm standing there and people are moving and this kid just turned around and he punched me. I don't know where he came from," Tomasko said. "He punched me in the gut and knocked me on the ground, and I fell back and hit the ground. Thank goodness the two ladies were behind me so I didn't hit my head."

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While Tomasko initially declined to go to the hospital, she said Saturday afternoon that she may need to because of her hip hitting the ground when she fell.

The boy who punched her was one of four that Tomasko saw earlier during the rally.

"There were these four boys that were, you know, Trumpers, and it's a Harris rally," Tomasko said. "So they were going back and forth and antagonizing people, and our people were antagonizing them, I guess."

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The rally, called by supporters "Rally on the Bridge," was part of the nationwide Women's March, and was specifically in support of Harris and Amendment 4, a ballot measure that would put protections for abortion rights in Florida's state constitution.

Tomasko said she has been attending political events for decades, but has never experienced anything like this.

"My girlfriend called me from Massachusetts and said 'Kathy, I can't believe, we've done rallies like this for how many years and nothing like this ever happens,'" Tomasko said.

There were no other arrests or incidents of violence reported at the event, Bossio said.

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Kathleen Tomasko (left), of Stuart, talks with Stuart Police officers after a 17-year-old was arrested for battery against Tomasko during a "We Won't Go Back" rally Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024, at the northeast corner of the Roosevelt Bridge in Stuart. The rally was part of the nation-wide Women's March, and was specifically in support of Harris and Amendment 4, a ballot measure that would put protections for abortion rights in Florida's state constitution.

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LurkerSix said:

lol

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Mr.LV said:

She’s going to win

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Chi-Town B said:

It's almost over guys, just have to get through tomorrow.

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Inori said:

nahhh it aint over... after the winner is declared is when the real fuckery begins at least until whoever wins is sworn in

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Chi-Town B said:

Don't say this, we're sick of this show.

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Chi-Town B said:

Well after tomorrow I'm off the grid as far as politics goes. I'm out this thread and other political threads, I'm not turning on the news until inauguration

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