Election 2024: Trump supporters tussle with Bradshaw backers at State Road 7 intersection
The Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office is investigating an altercation Monday between supporters of Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump and people backing Sheriff Ric Bradshaw, a Democrat running for re-election.
The incident, caught on video, has made it onto social media, prompting a Facebook post from a Trump supporter who accused members of the Police Benevolent Association of acting like Antifa, a network of far-left militants that have been involved in violent demonstrations.
PBSO could not immediately provide any information about the incident, which occurred a day before Election Day, but multiple sources said it is being investigated.
The PBA has endorsed Bradshaw and has financially supported him as well. John Kazanjian, its president, said supporters of Michael Gauger, the Republican candidate for sheriff, instigated the incident.
"These were Gauger people masquerading as Trump supporters. One of them got very aggressive with an off-duty deputy and a scuffle ensured. PBSO is investigating this, and I'm sure the deputy will be cleared," Kazanjian said.
Gauger called Kazanjian's claim that his supports instigated the fight "nonsense."
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On Monday, PBA members arrived at the corner of State Road 7 and Okeechobee Boulevard, the same spot where Trump supporters have rallied for the past six months. Lonnie Weinberg, one of the Trump organizers, said a deputy struck him in the face as he tried to break up the fight.
"I was barely grazed," said Weinberg, "but there was no reason for this to have occurred. We have been at this same spot more than 20 times and then, out of nowhere, these people (Bradshaw supporters) show up. They (the PBA) had a bad apple who was just too aggressive."
Weinberg noted the man involved in the scuffle with the deputy wore a Trump shirt and carried a Trump flag. If he was a Gauger supporter, he would have been wearing a Gauger shirt, Weinberg said, adding that he disputed the claim that all these people were Gauger supporters.
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"We have nothing against the PBSO," he said. "We support law enforcement, but what happened Monday was just wrong."
Robert Fix, a Trump supporter who was also at therally, posted on Facebook that the Trump people did not invite the the PBA-Bradshaw people to the Trump rally. Kazanjian said the PBA had as much right to be in the area as did the Trump people.
Fix said the off-duty PBSO deputy attacked the Trump supporter.
Mike Diamond is a journalist at The Palm Beach Post , part of the USA TODAY Florida Network. He covers Palm Beach County government and issues impacting homeowner associations. You can reach him at . Help support local journalism. Subscribe today.
