Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s bodyguards brutally beat at least one protester in New York City on Thursday, hours before the president’s meeting with his U.S. counterpart Donald J. Trump.
The man wore a t-shirt with symbols of YPG, a Syrian Kurdish militia, and protested against the Turkish president. His actions drew a quick response from Mr. Erdogan’s supporters and bodyguards, who punched the individual several times.
The bodyguards forcefully removed him from the venue that hosted an event against Islamophobia, which was organized by the Turkish American National Steering Committee, a pro-government entity.
On May 16, in a previous incident, President Erdogan’s guards had beaten a group of protestors, sparking a wide-ranging reaction from all corners of the U.S. political spectrum.
In his reaction to the second incident, former Vermont Governor Howard Dean called for the deportation of the Turkish leader.
Erdogan security beats up protesters in New York. Second time. Erdogan needs to be deported not praised by Trump
— Howard Dean (@GovHowardDean) September 21, 2017
After May incident, Arizona Senator John McCain pressed for the expulsion of the Turkish ambassador in response to the harsh handling of protesters by the Turkish security members.
