Marines Testify About Attack By ‘Antifa Mob’ In Philadelphia
Two US marine reservists were sprayed with mace, kicked in the ribs and stomped on by anti-Fascist protesters, according to court records.
November 17th two U.S. Marines Corps reservists said they were attacked in Old City; near the “We the People” rally.
The two suspects, Thomas Massey, and Tom Keenan, charged with two counts each of criminal conspiracy, aggravated assault, terroristic threats, simple assault, and reckless endangerment, appeared in a Philadelphia courtroom on December 13th. Both, who have been linked to Antifa on websites and social media, sat together with their individual lawyers and remained quiet.
Credit: DailyMail Tom Keenan, who has been called the head of Philly Antifa.
The Marines, Alejandro Godinez, and Luis Torres were both dressed in uniform when they testified about the incident.
Three Marine officers, including their commanding officer, stood in the gallery.
The Marines said that they had traveled to the city with other members of their helicopter unit, headquartered at Fort Dix, to attend a Marine event that night at a local hotel ballroom.
They said that they had no knowledge of the nearby rally.
According to the Marines’ testimony, they were touring historical landmarks near Front and Chestnut streets when Thomas Keenan approached them. Godinez testified that Keenan asked them “Are you proud?,” to which Godinez remembers responding “We are Marines.”
Torres said that he remembers Keenan asking “Are you Proud Boys?” an allusion to one of the alt-right groups behind the rally, and one that Torres said he didn’t understand. “I didn’t know what Proud Boys meant,” he said.
Credit: Philadelphia The suspects hide their faces from the cameras in the courthouse on Thursday.
Both Marines testified that Keenan, Massey, and approximately ten other people, some masked and some not, then began attacking them with mace, punches, and kicks, and calling them “Nazis” and “white supremacists.”
Investigators say that a group of men and women maced, punched, kicked, and robbed the reservists near Front and Chestnut streets on Saturday, November 17th, around 3:20 p.m., just down the street from the controversial “We the People” rally. The group allegedly called the reservists “Nazis” and “white supremacists.”
On the stand, Godinez said that he was “bewildered” by being called a white supremacist and immediately cried out, “I’m Mexican!” As the attack continued, both men said that members of the group, including Keenan, repeatedly used ethnic slurs, including “spic” and “wetback,” against the Marines. There was no testimony that Massey used any such slurs.
Godinez testified that he was maced at least six times, hit in the head, kicked in the ribs, and he said that while he was being “stomped,” members of the group, which the judge and the district attorney’s office have both referred to as a “mob,” chanted “fuck him up” over and over again.
Credit: Philadelphia Thomas Keenan and his attorney outside the courthouse.
“The best way I can describe it is the sound of people chanting in a soccer stadium,” Godinez told the court, adding that Keenan was “laughing, smiling, and having a good time, while I could have died that day.”
Torres testified that Massey punched him “full force” repeatedly while he held his hands up above his face to protect himself. The prosecutor used that opportunity to make it clear that while both Torres and Godinez are Marines, the suspects are significantly larger in both height and weight than the two of them.
In a statement released to Philly Mag, Godinez identified the group as an “Antifa mob” and said “we were outnumbered … there were two Marines against 10 to 12 assailants.”
On the stand, Godinez said that he tried to call 911 after the group had fled but he couldn’t operate his phone because of the mace. Torres called 911, and an ambulance took both men to Jefferson Hospital, where Godinez was treated. He said that his sight is still affected by what happened that day, he was noticeably blinking throughout the court proceeding, and he continues to have discomfort from some of his other injuries. He testified that he might require surgery. Torres did not seek medical treatment.
At one point in the hearing, Keenan’s attorney referred to the incident as a “tussle.” Shortly thereafter, the judge told the lawyer, “This isn’t like kids at a playground.”
After Godinez and Torres testified and the defense lawyers made brief arguments, the judge ruled that both men would be held for trial on aggravated assault and conspiracy charges — both felonies — as well as several misdemeanors.
The judge added a felony charge of ethnic intimidation against Keenan. Their next court date is December 27th.
By: Lexy On Twitter? Follow me: @PoliticallyRYT Have Information? Message me!
The attorney looks like a skin head nazi, must be a member of ANTIFA too. The judge should have ordered the masks off or a content charge and a 1000 dollar per second fine they were on. Its just continuing the support of the hate group.
These two guys will get to live in their dream world surrounded by all the noble savages they think they're protecting.
They are in for an eye opening experience.
These fools will get a rude awakening in prison and I’ll bet before they get released (if they make it) they will be really sorry for their actions. Lotsa Mexicans in the lockup that won’t take kindly to their racist slurs but seemingly low numbers of antifags as of now. If the courts filter them in little by little they won’t be able to create a support system, and they will all become someone’s bitch.
Antifa are the faciscist and in this case also the racists. People who watch CNN and MSNBC are being filled with so much hate and propaganda this savagery/ brutal attack does not suprise me. Hopefully they serve some real jail time.....
The attorney looks like a skin head nazi, must be a member of ANTIFA too. The judge should have ordered the masks off or a content charge and a 1000 dollar per second fine they were on. Its just continuing the support of the hate group.