A 25-year-old Indian-American student Jay Sani, pursuing electrical engineering at Washington State University, was assaulted by a staff member, Patrick Mahoney, as Sani was wearing a MAGA hat. The hat had “Trump 2024 TAKE AMERICA BACK” written on it. The incident took place on February 28 but outrage over it continues as more details of the incident emerged. Sani was attacked outside The Coug, a popular bar near the campus. 34-year-old Mahoney allegedly grabbed Sani’s hat and threw it into the street. Sani responded by tossing his food bag toward Mahoney. Then another person, Gerald Hoff, a 24-year-old research assistant, joined Mahoney to take Sani down. Mahoney reportedly slammed Sani’s head into the pavement. During police interrogation, Mahoney and Groff admitted to having heckled Sani and defended it saying that they did not do anything illegal. “I’ve seen this guy f**king on campus before. I know he’s like, f**king like, right-wing dude,” Mahoney said. “I, like, grabbed his hat, threw it, and I said like, “Go get it.”‘ Mahoney and Hoff were arrested and charged with fourth-degree misdemeanor assault.Jay Sani later issued a detailed statement of what happened on Facebook and wrote: “To make it clear, I hate to say this, but I’m brown, but forget it. I’m an engineering student that wants to get the degree, and move on. So what of I like someone that you don’t like. We have 1st amendment, and it’s not opka that just because you don’t like that person, I should be attacked for it. You had a chance in November to oust him, but you didn’t.“In the aftermath of the incident, WSU suspended Mahoney and removed him from all teaching duties. Sani is involved with conservative student groups on campus, including Turning Point USA, while Mahoney is described as a far-left graduate student. Mahoney has been active in pro-Palestinian demonstrations, including advocating for the Pullman City Council to sign a Gaza ceasefire resolution.
