Martin Gugino: Fractured Skull/Unable to Walk

[blogslut]

Link to tweet

Pervaiz Shallwani
@Pervaizistan

NEW: Martin Gugino, the 75-year-old protester who was pushed by two Buffalo police officers, has a fractured skull and is not able to walk, according to a statement his lawyer sent @CNN today.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

1. Mr. Gugino is about to own a big chunk of the city of Buffalo,

but that doesn't make up for that kind of injury. I hope he can recover eventually.

[jrthin]

23. I hope he OWNS the city of Buffalo. And

while he's at it maybe he can OWN the police union too.

[PatSeg]

25. But that won't be much of a victory

if he is permanently handicapped.

[AlexSFCA]

31. no, but it would be a lesson

Lawyers need to go after police unions not city general funds. Make officers pay for lawsuit through their drastic increase in union fees to cover lawsuits.

[jrthin]

34. Exactly nt

[PatSeg]

35. That's an excellent point

The police unions have been a major contributing factor to so much out of control police abuse. If they have to start paying, maybe they won't be so quick to defend every rotten cop in the force.

[LiberalArkie]

36. Maybe the cities should contract with the unions for their police and not be responsible

for the officers. Officer does something wrong, sue the union. Union being bad, don't renew their union, hire a different union.

[mwooldri]

51. Privatise the police?

If we're looking for "armed security" then maybe, but proper policing is much much more than that. We need better trained officers, preferably with a social work background, and the social resources necessary in the community to the point that America doesn't need "armed security".

[LiberalArkie]

54. Same thing happens in big business. If the current security provider breaks a rule, they fire the

security company and hire a different one.

[jaxexpat]

55. I'm thinking this is sort of backwards thinking. Try this train of thought...

The goal of defunding, at least in my mind, is to remove social work issues (homelessness, drug dependency, mental illness) from the purview of armed police. Take the funds and employ people specifically trained to handle these issues. Eliminating enforcers from situations where the problems are not fixable with fire arms and intimidation. This problem got out of hand when, due to social services budget cuts from the 80's, the streets got crazier. The only fix that's been offered since then has been to militarize the police tool belt and weight them down with additional responsibilities and liabilities, essentially their mastery of these incompatible skills is an impossible task. Lotta stress for barely above poverty level wages.

[calimary]

53. That's another good idea.

When unions block legitimately needed reforms, there should be a price for that privilege. It shouldn't be free with no encumbrance or consequences. It should come with an obligation, moral, financial, cultural, or otherwise.

[Dustlawyer]

45. He has a tough row to hoe to prevail over Qualified Immunity.

Hopefully they get rid of this government protection that puts citizens at the mercy of police who do not face justice, either civil or criminal.

[Dream Girl]

49. Qualified immunity just means they can't go after the cops. Cities can are do pay plenty

[cstanleytech]

78. Which means the tax payers will pay for it so there is that negative to consider.

[modrepub]

69. Taxpayers Always On The Hook For These Types of Behavior

You'd figure they'd be more careful who they hire.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

70. Many cities have self-insurance funds or insurance trusts, but

even if that's the case the taxpayers end up footing the bill for the insurance.

[malaise]

2. Get thee to the greatest page

I hope he sues them

[BComplex]

5. Me too. And that one officer that pushed him needs to be hit with a civil suit as well.

Buffalo is about to have to pay out a large sum for some "bad apples".

[Crunchy Frog]

8. Hopefully he won't be protected by "qualified immunity". n/t

[BComplex]

9. "Qualified immunity" is license to kill, and it has to be repealed the minute Moscow Mitch is

gone from his position.

[Newest Reality]

10. Yes,

It is like making being sadist and serial killer easy and legal. In fact, if they are smart, that's the perfect position for them and I think we are infested.

[BComplex]

11. Sadists and serial killers with a badge. What a coup that is for the white supremacists.

There are definitely awesome and decent cops, but even they don't need unrivaled power in this country. So it makes it especially heinous when the bad guys are given that power. There are laws that protect ANYONE for acting in self-defense, which is really all a policeman needs.

[Crunchy Frog]

12. Sadly, I believe that only the Supreme Court can "repeal" it,

and they don't seem to be so inclined, including most of the liberal justices.

Really sucks.

[in2herbs]

29. It's not Moscow Mitch who gave cops qualified immunity, it's the courts, specifically USSC. In fact

I think they just ruled that they weren't going to review cases challenging qualified immunity. This is why we must change Biden's mind and add USSC justices.

[BComplex]

33. But doesn't supreme court abide by and enforce the laws created by congress?

Isn't that where laws are made? How can the supreme court make it's own laws? That's what I mean. If congress makes the law, then the supreme court will have to find some reason it's not constitutional to do away with it.

Or am I wrong about how the 3 branches work?

[in2herbs]

38. For example, Congress did not establish Citizen's United. The USSC went looking for a case that

they could develop a CU decision about. The courts do not claim to make the laws, just interpret them. And too often the conservatives use too much leeway in interpreting their decisions in order to make a law that they claim is based on the issue before them.

[StarfishSaver]

48. Congress passed the law that the plaintiffs in Citizens United challenged up to the Supreme Court

Citizens United involved an interpretation of the McCain-Feingold law, which, among other things, prohibited "electioneering communications" by corporations within 60 days of an election. Plaintiffs, an independent organization that had been prohibited by the FEC from producing a campaign ad on the ground that it violated the law, sued and challenged the validity of that provision. The Supreme Court ruled that that section of the law violated the First Amendment to the Constitution.

The Supreme Court didn't go looking for this case on its own nor did it make law just out of whole cloth. It interpreted an existing law. Of course, it didn't have to grant cert and the conservative justices likely did in order to get involved in the issue. And I think we all know that those justices interpreted the law in a way that turns the law on its head, helped to savage the campaign finance system, and undermined the election process, but interpret the law is nonetheless exactly what they did.

[stopdiggin]

47. it might help to go back and find out

what "qualified immunity" is .. and how and why it came to be.

https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/qualified_immunity

As a general principle, there probably is not wide support for tossing it aside. No doubt, in the current climate, there will be discussions and talk about "adjustments" .. as our politicians are ever accommodating. Whether anything real or substantive will come of it ....

(Also as a general principle, the idea that most people on the bench -- including conservatives -- are routine apologists for the state, or the state agents. is probably wildly off the mark. Most jurists can have -- or at least entertain -- a fairly skeptical view.)

[tblue37]

39. Two officers pushed him at the same time. nt

[Ms. Toad]

59. Only the one on the right of the screen pushed him. n/t

[tblue37]

60. No, the other one used his baton, held in both hands, to shove him in the chest. nt

[Ms. Toad]

61. From my multiple views -

that one didn't actually make contact. n/t

[tblue37]

62. In this slow motion view, the second cop does seem to make contact, at least as I see it.

[2naSalit]

65. something I noticed the other day

when it was on some news show, is the baton guy then goes to the guy but gets pulled away... I don't think he was trying to help the guy. Seriously, he is still grasping the baton with both hands looking more like he was about to work the victim over before moving on. It was a superior who stopped him, he never let go of the baton. That what I see now when I watch this assault.

[Ms. Toad]

75. Boy is that creepy with the sound turned on.

The only sound that is crystal clear is his head hitting the pavement.

It's hard to tell - but you may be right.

[tblue37]

79. One thing to notice is the way the cop pushing with the baton pushes off with his legs.

That sort of leg movement usually accompanies a push movement with the upper body.

[JudyM]

77. It looks to me like the 3rd cop pushes the baton cop to push the guy harder.

Looks like the baton cop was gently and slowly pushing the guy at first. The third guy should have more liability than the baton cop.

[BComplex]

67. Then they both need to be sued.

[SheltieLover]

3. K&R!

Poor guy! Sue them!

[Blecht]

4. Just think if this had happened 25 years ago

There would have only been the word of a dozen cops versus 100 citizens -- we all know how that would have turned out.

I thought I never would be thankful for ubiquitous cell phones, but I am now.

[Johnny2X2X]

6. Horrific

I don't think the video at first glance shows what really happened, people might see one officer put one arm out, but it was the officer directly in front of him that shoved him two handed hard with his night stick. The angle of the camera made it look like a small shove, when it was a violent two handed strike to the chest with a baton.

[CountAllVotes]

7. A person on twitter blamed it on his age

"That's what happens when old people fall".

No, that's what happens when you are pushed to the ground and hit your head on the concrete!

The stupidity of a disease called MAGATism is astounding to me *at times*!

DUMP TRUMP!

[keithbvadu2]

18. "Harder" has nothing to do do with it. . He fell BECAUSE he was pushed.

Trumpsters try to blame him for falling 'harder' than necessary.

"Harder" has nothing to do do with it. . He fell BECAUSE he was pushed.

[rmm311]

68. That requires a belief in gravity and how it works.

Questionable whether they believe in it and obvious that they don't have a clue what it does.

[MuseRider]

13. What I don't get about all of these

horrors is that if I was a cop and I hurt someone I would feel just horrible. Are there really so few people in that line of work that see the rest of us as citizens? We are all targets now I guess and I just cannot deal with that.

[Runningdawg]

14. From what I gather its like losing your virginity

You only feel guilty the first time, after that, it's all fun and games!

[MuseRider]

17. Well I lol'ed for a moment

then went, "Ohhhhh, not funny but on point."

I guess there are enough of them that think it is fun.

[Vinca]

15. Poor man. Buffalo better start thinking about the size of the settlement check.

If it goes to a jury this man is going to own the city.

[honest.abe]

16. Trump will say he's faking.

Very sad situation. Hope he can recover eventually.

[Ms. Toad]

56. Fortunately, Trump will not be a witness. n/t

[trickyguy]

19. My heart goes out to Martin. May he continue to recover.

[Jersey Devlin]

20. Not Buffalo Springfield

More like Buffalo Springtime For Hitler, although wayyyyyyy less funny than the movie with Gene Wilder!

Vote in November like it's Judgment Day. 'cause, for America, it is.

[Hekate]

21. A skull fracture where blood literally pours out of the ear (as we saw) is an extremely serious one

Not being able to walk will be the least of his worries.

Mr. Gugino worked for peace and justice his whole life

[dalton99a]

24. +1

[Hassin Bin Sober]

27. I thought for sure he was a goner.

I hope he recovers fully

[uponit7771]

57. 👍

[warmfeet]

72. Yes. K & R

[gademocrat7]

22. Hope Mr. Gugino can heal and have a good recovery.

Bankrupt Buffalo.

[SunSeeker]

26. I am amazed he is still alive. He must be in so much pain.

[Ilsa]

28. Yet he was called an agent provocateur. nt

[jeffreyi]

30. Note to self:

Bleeding from the ear is probably not a good thing.
Hope he can recover.

[DFW]

32. If it were up to me and my pal Hammurabi

The cop that pushed him should be forcibly bound to a wheelchair with daily injections to numb his legs until Gugino can walk again. Now, I am well aware that my solution is vengeful and contrary to the law and the spirit of the law, and it's definitely a good thing no one is consulting me on this case. But these sadists have gotten away with too much for too long, and the rage just boils over to the point where one fantasizes about some of these goons being forced to swallow a large dose of their own medicine.

And keep in mind, this is coming from someone who lives over 4000 miles from where it all happened!

[The Magistrate]

42. The Code Is The Code, Sir

"As another you've served, so be served you must, and that's just."

[DFW]

63. Fiftey years ago

I entered my university, and my very able Swedish professor introduced the class to her husband, who also taught at the same school, but in the archaeology department. He was one of the few people alive that could read cuneiform tablets. I always wondered if he ever came across some that might have had been the actual work Hammurabi's scribes.

As a tangent, at that same universoty, to earn some extra spending money, a fellow Russian-speaking musician and I formed a balalaika duet and were hired by, of all places, a Middle Eastern café-restaurant in Center City. I noticed the language being spoken by the brothers that ran the place didn't sound at all Arabic, so I asked them where they were from. They said Iran, but they weren't Persian. I asked what then? They said they were Assyrians. I was sure I hadn't heard right. I said, you mean Syrians? They said no, Assyrians. I asked "as in Zigurats and Ashurbannipal?" They beamed, and said, "Right, that's us! So you've heard of us?" I said, yes, of course I has heard of them. I just wasn't aware that they had survived the last three thousand years. In my ignorance, I thought I had just met the human ethnic version of the coelacanth.

[tblue37]

37. If a fractured hip greatly increased the risk of death within months for seniors, then I imagine

a fractured skull would pose an even greater risk of subsequent mortality.

They have really messed up that poor man's life.

[chowder66]

40. This is terribly sad.

[NCjack]

41. If the two men who injured Martin were decent, they would report for duty

everyday to serve Martin as his monkeys until he is healed.

[The Magistrate]

43. They Are Too Busy, Sir

Complaining about being criticized by people who just don't understand what a cop has to do, and basking in the kudos of their fellow officers for doing what just had to be done....

[NCjack]

44. Yes, of course. And, it begs the question: would decent men have assaulted Martin? (No.)

[KT2000]

46. the sound of his head

hitting the pavement indicated a fractured skull for sure. And then there was blood coming from his ear. The cops were so self important they walked by without lifting a finger. Every one of them who walked by should be fired.

[demtenjeep]

50. I can never get that sound out of my head

it was horrible

[proud patriot]

52. GRRRRRRRRRRRR

I'm spitting mad .. grr

[lillypaddle]

58. This is a death sentence for that poor man

[Niagara]

64. Please stay with us, Martin Gugino.

[CousinIT]

66. He should SUE THE HELL out of those cops.

Yea as someone else said, he should OWN the city of Buffalo.

[liberalla]

71. That good man did not deserve this. This is so upsetting... I hope he surprises us all

and has a full recovery (or damn near!).

Just so senseless.

[denvine]

76. Absolutely!

My heart breaks for him!

[soldierant]

73. No words.

[DENVERPOPS]

74. Everyone points to the cop

that reached out and shoved him.....The real hit was the cop beside him who landed a cross check with a Baton held in both hands....
That same move in a hockey game at any level will get you a Major penalty, much more than the minor ones, and can end up with a game misconduct or a suspension because of the force and nastiness.........

[PatrickforO]

80. Massive lawsuit.

Massive.

[ecstatic]

81. No amount of money will make this right. nt

[bucolic_frolic]

82. Trump: Fractured Walk/Unable to Skull

Fixed that headline!

[eilen]

83. This is not good

I hope he is able to go to an acute rehab for brain injuries and get the best care. People at that age, when dependent and unable to move easily lose mentation and head injuries-- cause an increase of impulsivity and emotional lability which can lead to more falls and injury. It just doesn't bode well for a return to independence and I hope he has many friends and family that can help him through this, advocate for him and give him support after rehab. I am surely praying for this man. My son is moving to Buffalo soon. He is going there for grad school. I hope the city cleans up its act.

[gopiscrap]

84. Is there a fund set up for him?

Because lawsuits take forever and ther fucking city of Buffalo will stall any payout they can stall til the latest possible second