An 82-year-old woman in Edmonds, Washington was arrested Monday on suspicion of a hate crime and assault after allegedly attacking two Trump supporters, one of whom she reportedly confronted based on her skin color.
The incident unfolded a day before the general election at an intersection where several Trump supporters had gathered to show support.
The woman, wearing a Harris-Walz pin, approached a 55-year-old Trump supporter, questioning her choice to vote for Trump "because you're brown-skinned," as captured on body camera footage, Edmonds police said. The suspect allegedly pushed and punched the woman in the chin, then struck a 66-year-old supporter who intervened, defending the latter as a demonstration of how she pushed the first supporter.
Neither victim required medical attention, though both expressed discomfort over the encounter. "She obviously didn't hurt me," the first Trump supporter told ABC. "But... we have freedom of speech... You can't touch me."
The suspect was booked into the Snohomish County Jail and later released on personal recognizance.
"Our officers properly determined that this was more than just an assault," Edmonds Police Chief Michelle Bennett commented. "The constitution protects peaceful rallies in our community, and community members should never be met with violence while exercising those rights."
"Community members peacefully showing political support should not be subject to hateful violence. I'm thankful there were no serious injuries, and the suspect was held accountable." Edmonds Mayor Mike Rosen added.
Police say the suspect indicated race and political views as her motives, prompting the hate crime charge.
The suspect, who reportedly expressed frustration with people of color supporting Trump, insisted to officers that she was "definitely not a racist."
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