A Texas man, Jesse Lutzenberger, is facing a felony charge after assaulting an elderly poll worker who asked him to remove his “Make America Great Again” hat at an early voting site. Sheriff Javier Salazar stated that Lutzenberger complied with the request initially but put the hat back on after voting, which is prohibited under electioneering laws. As the poll worker escorted him out, Lutzenberger allegedly threw punches at the worker’s face. Lutzenberger was later tracked down and arrested on a third-degree felony charge of injury to an elderly person. The victim suffered non-life-threatening injuries.
This incident comes amidst heightened concerns about post-election violence, with a recent poll showing that 62% of respondents believe violence related to the election is likely. Sheriff Salazar emphasized the need to avoid violence and maintain civility during the election season. Texas is one of 21 states that prohibits campaign apparel at polling sites, with the Secretary of State’s website stating that wearing items related to political candidates is not allowed. The voting clerk has the authority to ensure the safety and efficiency of polling places. Salazar hopes that this incident serves as a reminder to Americans that resorting to violence in the name of politics is not justified.
Source
Photo credit www.scrippsnews.com