DISTURBING footage shows a Trump-supporting schoolboy being battered by a gang of bullies for “wearing a MAGA hat.”
The sickening attack took place last month in Hamilton County, Florida and involved five kids – two girls and three boys – who have since been charged by police.
In the shocking clip, the victim, identified as Tyler, is seen cowering as the group pummel him relentlessly with punches on a school bus.
His family claim he was targeted for wearing a red Trump 2020 hat to school earlier that day.
The boy’s mother yesterday released the 21-second video of the November 21 attack.
His mum says Tyler had bought the Trump hat “with his own money” at a flea market several weeks earlier.
She tweeted: “He was proud to wear it. He wore it to school, but due to immediate bullying he put it away & didn’t wear it to school again, sadly the damage was already done & was now a target.”
The teen was then “steadily” bullied on the bus, getting “tripped” and verbally abused before the situation culminated in the beatdown that required a trip to the hospital, his mother claimed.
She continued: “The nurse noted there are bruises on his arm that were older along with his new injuries.
“He didn’t tell us about the bullying, but they took it to a new level yesterday and we are just now learning what he was going through.”
Attorney Foye Walker, who is representing the boy, said the attack occurred on a school bus and remains under investigation.
Speaking with The New York Post, Walker said: “Tyler wore a Trump hat to school two weeks prior to the beating.
“It started and/or increased a series of bullying that culminated in his assault and batter … His beating appears to be the result of his support for President Trump.”
The attack over Tyler’s political beliefs is simply “not acceptable,” Walker said.
He was proud to wear it. He wore it to school
The teen’s mother, meanwhile, said his attackers “tried to beat his head soft” and insisted the incident was a “hate crime.”
She said: “Plain and simple this was a hate crime and attempted murder according to the state of Florida since it was over three kids that jumped him and these kids are older and larger.
“Thankfully my son got into the foetal position and held his hands over his head — he’s got defensive wounds.”
In a statement, school officials said the student’s Trump hat had nothing to do with the assault.
“The incident began with a verbal altercation between two students that escalated when additional students became involved,” the statement said.
The fight was an isolated matter totally unrelated to political statements or agendas, superintendent Rex Mitchell said.
He said: “We absolutely do not condone the use of physical force between students.
“This was an unfortunate incident that we take very seriously as the safety and welfare of the students is always our top priority.”
Five juveniles have been charged with first-degree misdemeanour battery in the incident, the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office announced Friday, while citing “some misinformation” that was shared along with the video.
The attack also did not meet criteria for a hate crime, sheriff’s officials said.
A version of this story originally appeared on The New York Post.
