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‘Can’t kill Trump can’t kill me’: South Boston man allegedly attacked by teens for carrying Trump flag
Brian Foley, 26, was wearing a neck brace in a Facebook post after the incident. The minors told police that Foley attacked first.
A volunteer with former President Donald Trump’s local campaign was allegedly attacked by a group of teens in South Boston last week. The minors involved told police the man attacked them first.
The campaign volunteer was walking by a Burger King on Broadway Thursday evening when he was allegedly attacked “by a bunch of youths because he was carrying a ‘Trump’ flag,” according to a police report obtained by Boston.com.
The volunteer is Brian Foley, 26, he told the Boston Herald Friday. Foley has repeatedly hung Trump flags on public property around the city and posted videos of his confrontations with police and city workers, including outside Boston City Hall earlier this month.
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“You’re gonna get shot for carrying that flag,” one of the youth allegedly told Foley. Then, the youths allegedly attacked him, and he fought back, Foley told police. Another man passing by then pepper-sprayed the juveniles to protect Foley, police said.
The officer who responded spoke to the juveniles, who claimed Foley was the aggressor and started the fight. Both of the youth were injured from the pepper-spray and requested medical attention but denied it later. The police report listed two suspects but did not report any arrests.
Foley “had visible scratches on his head and neck and was transported to Tufts Medical Center for further treatment,” the report said. He also “lost” a wedding ring during the fight. He posted to Facebook Thursday apparently from a medical facility while wearing a neck brace.
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“Can’t kill Trump can’t kill me,” he wrote on his picture. He shared in the caption that he would be “resting for the rest of night. No real updates other then I’m banged up. I’ll message people after I feel a little better and get word.”
Mass. GOP Party reacts, far-right advocate says he was ‘viciously beaten’
The Massachusetts Republican Party shared an image of Foley in “brighter days” and denounced “criminals” attacking someone due to their political views.
“We stand united in prayer for his swift recovery,” they said in a statement. “We’re confident this proud patriot’s spirit cannot be silenced; instead, it will fuel his resolve to fight even harder for our cause. And we stand united with him.”
The attack is also gaining some far-right support. Christine Doherty, another volunteer with the Trump campaign and the director of operations for the far-right group Super Happy Fun America, according to her Facebook profile, is promoting an upcoming rally to support Foley.
It appears the rally is not organized by Mass GOP. The website listed features Trump’s campaign points, asks for campaign volunteers, and has an extensive events calendar.
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The calendar includes a Boston standout on Sunday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. to support Foley, Doherty shared. The flier reads “Stop the violence” and is hosted by “Team Trump.”
“Brian was viciously beaten last Thursday for carrying Trump flags in South Boston. He sustained multiple injuries,” Doherty wrote. “Please, let’s all show up and unite to send a message that physical violence against us is never okay and that it also won’t silence us.”
Foley and Mass GOP did not return a request for comment Tuesday night.
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