Willie R. Tubbs, FISM News
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Senator Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) said he believes one of his campaign volunteers was brutally attacked over the weekend because of his politics.
Monday, the normally measured Rubio took to Twitter to criticize four men who allegedly attacked Christopher Monzon, who was canvassing for Rubio in the South Florida city of Hialeah.
“Last night one of our canvassers wearing my T-shirt and a Desantis hat was brutally attacked by 4 animals who told him Republicans weren’t allowed in their neighborhood in #Hialeah #Florida,” Rubio wrote. “He suffered internal bleeding, a broken jaw & will need facial reconstructive surgery.”
Last night one of our canvassers wearing my T-shirt and a Desantis hat was brutally attacked by 4 animals who told him Republicans weren’t allowed in their neighborhood in #Hialeah #Florida
He suffered internal bleeding, a broken jaw & will need facial reconstructive surgery pic.twitter.com/36QpbySg58
— Marco Rubio (@marcorubio) October 24, 2022
Congresswoman Val Demings, Rubio’s opponent in his bid for reelection this fall, was quick to decry the violence.
“I have zero tolerance for any violence against any person for any reason,” Demings, a former police officer, tweeted. “Those responsible for attacking a canvasser last night should be arrested and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
I have zero tolerance for any violence against any person for any reason. Those responsible for attacking a canvasser last night should be arrested and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
— Val Demings (@valdemings) October 24, 2022
The Hialeah Police Department has not confirmed the number of attackers or the reason why Monzon was targeted.
As reported by WPLG-TV, a Miami ABC affiliate, police arrested just one person, a man named Javier Lopez, in connection with the attack. It is unclear if there are more suspects being sought.
WPLG quoted Sgt. Jose Torres, a Hialeah Police Department spokesperson, as saying that the investigation was ongoing but that there was not yet confirmation that the attack was politically motivated.
What is certain is that Monzon was hospitalized after the attack and remained so as of Monday.
According to the police report, when Monzon walked past Lopez’s home, Lopez stated, “you can’t pass by here, this is my neighborhood.”
Per the report, Monzon informed Lopez that the street was public property and that Monzon was within his rights to be there. However, Monzon said he crossed the street in an apparent attempt to avoid Lopez.
Lopez is accused of having slammed Monzon to the ground before punching him numerous times and causing “severe swelling” and bleeding.
According to the police report, a still-unidentified third person was also involved in the incident, but this person appears to have attempted to attack Lopez rather than Monzon.