April 24, 2008
(Updated) Wheelchair-Bound Teen *Not* Hit by Bush Protester
Who knew that Laura Bush and daughter Jenna Bush's children's book tour would prompt violence? The Post reports a wheelchair-bound girl was assaulted by a Bush protester after the Bushes' 92nd Street Y appearance on Tuesday.
Apparently German Tallis, 22, was protesting about Iraq and Iran, and John Lovetro said to him, "What are you doing? Shut up. This is about a child and books...Get out of here! You're being a moron!" But instead of getting upset with Lovetro, Tallis allegedly took it out on Lovetro's 18-year-old daughter Maureen who has cerebral palsy--and punched her in the shoulder blades and thigh.
Then the two men scuffled until police broke up the fight and arrested Tallis for assault and resisting arrest. Maureen Lovetro was not seriously injured.
The First Lady and her daughter were in NJ last night for their tour (no scuffles reported--yet) and are promoting the book through May 1--and then Jenna Bush will be married on May 10 at the "Western White House."
Update: Based on comments questioning the accuracy of the Post's article (one commenter writes, "In the girl's deposition to the police there is no mention of the protester punching the girl"), we've contacted the NYPD for more information about the incident. We'll update once we have an answer from the NYPD.
Update, April 30: We spoke to the NYPD, who said that police officers from the 19th Precinct were called to the 92nd Street Y about two disruptive people who refused to leave. According to the NYPD, Talis assaulted another person, causing a laceration, and was charged with assault 3. The NYPD said the Post's account of a wheelchair-bound teen being assaulted was untrue.
A second individual, Matthew Lepecak, was given a summons and released.
Photograph of Laura and Jenna Bush at a Glen Rock, NJ bookstore by Mike Derer/AP
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Damn that guy for giving a bad name to Bush protestors everywhere.
And how stupid of that woman to think that Jenna and Laura's photo op was really about children's books.
Countdown to Blanket condemnation of GW Bush protesters in
3...2...1...
Wow.... tough guy.
And how stupid of that woman to think that Jenna and Laura's photo op was really about children's books
You're right, it must be in support of his re-election campaign. Oh, wait.
what the hell? who is this moron?
"what the hell? who is this moron?"
I believe he is today's winner of the Darwin Award.
And the Post wonders why it has a hard time even giving away free papers?
Who do I pay to arrange the Diallo treatment for this guy?
When keeping it real goes wrong: protester edition...
Doesn't Laura Bush look like Ronald McDonald?
i'm sure the nypd will make sure this guy "falls" on his way to booking or "slips" getting out of the squad car.
jesus. it's like any half-wit can style himself a protester these days and get away with it. what the fuck was he doing addressing foreign policy when he stood witness to a wholly different tragedy. those grinning idiots are peddling "books" to the nation's children. children. children, who are idiots and will generally end up believing what one tells them to believe. these douchebags are molesting your childrens' minds, can't you see that, for the love of god, someone do something
First, the wheelchair-bound Chinese Olympic athlete carrying the torch was attacked, and now this. Taking "they doth protest" to whole new levels of stupid.
[11] Barbara and Jenna have to promote children's books. They've got to have something for Dubya to read.
This story is inaccurate. The protester was peacefully asking questions when he was attacked by the man with the daughter in the wheelchair. It was an unprovoked attack and it was violent. They lied about what happened and the victim was arrested while the REAL criminal was allowed to walk. This is yet ANOTHER attempt to discredit concerned Americans who are only trying to wake people up to the Federal Government's drift towards a fascist state. The journalist who wrote this story should be ashamed of themselves, whoever they are.
America, WAKE UP!! We're being spoon fed lies and we're too spineless to object. They have an agenda and you need to find out what it is.
http://www.prisonplanet.com
http://www.infowars.com
Great, more talking points for Bill O'Reilly.
PS: Scott, WE ARE AWAKE. STOP SHOUTING OR WE'LL NEVER GET BACK TO SLEEP. OK? OK!
Wow what a trumped up version of the truth. The video of it is on youtube. Please watch the video and see for yourself. Please look at their website wearechange.org. They are not a violent group. The attacker claims he was attacked by the man with the daughter. Please do some research gothamist before you write one-sided stories!!!
In the girl's deposition to the police there is no mention of the protester punching the girl.
This protester is a member of WEARECHANGE which is a peaceful - non-violent - group.
Actually, by all accounts, he was verbally abused by the girl's father - for no good reason - and was thereafter attacked by the girl's father.
The police refused to take the testimony of eye-witnesses who witnessed the attack.
The man was accompanied by his wife and two daughters - one of which was in a wheel chair.
When the Bushs were going to get into a waiting van - the father - who was wearing a blue jacket - started beating up on the protester. Admittedly the protester was shouting out at the departing Bushs, but there was absolutely no excuse for the father to do what he did. Even his wife was telling him to stop and back-off.
This whole story has been totally twisted by the press and is a complete fabrication of the truth.
In short, it's a nasty and calculating smear against WEARECHANGE.
This protester should have all charges against him dropped immediately, and instead, the father should be arrested and charged with assault and battery.
In the girl's deposition to the police there is no mention of the protester punching the girl.
This protester is a member of WEARECHANGE which is a peaceful - non-violent - group.
Actually, by all accounts, he was verbally abused by the girl's father - for no good reason - and was thereafter attacked by the girl's father.
The police refused to take the testimony of eye-witnesses who witnessed the attack.
The man was accompanied by his wife and two daughters - one of which was in a wheel chair.
When the Bushs were going to get into a waiting van - the father - who was wearing a blue jacket - started beating up on the protester. Admittedly the protester was shouting out at the departing Bushs, but there was absolutely no excuse for the father to do what he did. Even his wife was telling him to stop and back-off.
This whole story has been totally twisted by the press and is a complete fabrication of the truth.
In short, it's a nasty and calculating smear against WEARECHANGE.
This protester should have all charges against him dropped immediately, and instead, the father should be arrested and charged with assault and battery.
In the girl's deposition to the police there is no mention of the protester punching the girl.
This protester is a member of WEARECHANGE which is a peaceful - non-violent - group.
Actually, by all accounts, he was verbally abused by the girl's father - for no good reason - and was thereafter attacked by the girl's father.
The police refused to take the testimony of eye-witnesses who witnessed the attack.
The man was accompanied by his wife and two daughters - one of which was in a wheel chair.
When the Bushs were going to get into a waiting van - the father - who was wearing a blue jacket - started beating up on the protester. Admittedly the protester was shouting out at the departing Bushs, but there was absolutely no excuse for the father to do what he did. Even his wife was telling him to stop and back-off.
This whole story has been totally twisted by the press and is a complete fabrication of the truth.
In short, it's a nasty and calculating smear against WEARECHANGE.
This protester should have all charges against him dropped immediately, and instead, the father should be arrested and charged with assault and battery.
In the girl's deposition to the police there is no mention of the protester punching the girl.
This protester is a member of WEARECHANGE which is a peaceful - non-violent - group.
Actually, by all accounts, he was verbally abused by the girl's father - for no good reason - and was thereafter attacked by the girl's father.
The police refused to take the testimony of eye-witnesses who witnessed the attack.
The man was accompanied by his wife and two daughters - one of which was in a wheel chair.
When the Bushs were going to get into a waiting van - the father - who was wearing a blue jacket - started beating up on the protester. Admittedly the protester was shouting out at the departing Bushs, but there was absolutely no excuse for the father to do what he did. Even his wife was telling him to stop and back-off.
This whole story has been totally twisted by the press and is a complete fabrication of the truth.
In short, it's a nasty and calculating smear against WEARECHANGE.
This protester should have all charges against him dropped immediately, and instead, the father should be arrested and charged with assault and battery.
Thanks for the comments - I've contacted the police department for more information.
In the girl's deposition to the police there is no mention of the protester punching the girl.
This protester is a member of WEARECHANGE which is a peaceful - non-violent - group.
Actually, by all accounts, he was verbally abused by the girl's father - for no good reason - and was thereafter attacked by the girl's father.
The police refused to take the testimony of eye-witnesses who witnessed the attack.
The man was accompanied by his wife and two daughters - one of which was in a wheel chair.
When the Bushs were going to get into a waiting van - the father - who was wearing a blue jacket - started beating up on the protester. Admittedly the protester was shouting out at the departing Bushs, but there was absolutely no excuse for the father to do what he did. Even his wife was telling him to stop and back-off.
This whole story has been totally twisted by the press and is a complete fabrication of the truth.
In short, it's a nasty and calculating smear against WEARECHANGE.
This protester should have all charges against him dropped immediately, and instead, the father should be arrested and charged with assault and battery.
If the protester really punched the girl in the wheelchair,why would her mother tell her husband to stop attacking the protester ???
WeAreChange are about truth and freedom,they are not a violent organization.
I wonder how much exposure the protester will get when he sues their ass ???
Jen Chung - What did you find out from the police?
scott_evil-- I called them and they asked that I send an email. I basically outlined the story that was reported in the Post, pointed them to the We Are Change website, and mentioned how commenters here felt there were inconsistencies with the Post's article and requested more information.
I get that the Post might push this story in a certain way, so when I get a response from the NYPD, I'll work on an update, either on this post (if I get something today) or write a new post.
I was very upset when I read the story, but then I saw a picture of Jen Chung and thought she was hot.
I'm not buying that a 22 year old guy attacked a disabled girl, but I could be wrong.
Thanks, Jen. That makes a big difference. Your willingness to make things right has an integrity that is admirable.
I request you take this story off Gothamist, at least until you have certainty to the accuracy of the reporting.
This is a propaganda piece. The post writer that originated this got the story wrong.
What happened was, there was a man standing with the girl in the wheelchair. He assaulted the We Are Change member, and the cops blamed him. The girl in the wheelchair wasn't accosted.
Amazing how these stories get so far out of hand.
For those of you who do not understand the instinct to kill a predator who may injure your child - and in the case one who is wheelchair bound! Come on - who did this protestor think he was dealing with? Beware the instinctual rage a parent feels to protect the innocent. Guess many of our youth failed their science class.
The girl in the wheelchair called a radio talk show today.
She confirmed that the protester hit her the shoulder... She also say her dad tried to protect
her.
04/24/08
No hurry, Jen. In fact, the longer you avoid cleaning up a mess like this, the more likely the people will believe the lies that you so courageously copy and paste. I guess you don't have to have journalistic integrity as long as your agenda is biased, and you don't actually produce anything. Well done.
scott_evil, thanks for your continued interest. I just spoke to the NYPD, who said the Post's account was incorrect and gave me some details. I update the post and will be writing a new one.