Indian American student wearing pro-Trump hat attacked near WSU
[Source]
A Washington State University (WSU) electrical engineering student was reportedly assaulted by a graduate student and a staff member while wearing a pro-Donald Trump hat near campus in February.
What happened
Jay Sani, a 25-year-old junior, was attacked outside The Coug, a popular bar near campus on Feb. 28. Patrick Mahoney, a 34-year-old graduate student, allegedly grabbed Sani's 'Trump 2024 TAKE AMERICA BACK' hat and threw it into the road. When Sani responded by throwing his food bag toward Mahoney, both Mahoney and Gerald Hoff, a 24-year-old research assistant, allegedly took Sani to the ground and each delivered a punch.
'I'm an engineering student that wants to get the degree, and move on. So what if I like someone that you don't like,' Sani wrote in a Facebook post. 'We have the First Amendment, and it's not okay that just because you don't like that person, I should be attacked for it.'
Trending on NextShark: Daniel Dae Kim is first Asian American to be nominated for Tony lead actor award
Arrest and charges
Body camera footage reportedly shows both men admitting to striking Sani, with Mahoney hitting him in the face and Hoff striking his legs. Both suspects were arrested, charged with misdemeanor fourth-degree assault and later released. According to police reports, Mahoney, who wore a shirt reading 'MARX WAS RIGHT,' told officers, 'You wanna wear the hat, hey, there's gonna be a price to pay.'
Fired from teaching
Trending on NextShark: Vietnamese refugee suffering from dementia dies in ICE custody in Texas
WSU has since relieved Mahoney of all teaching responsibilities, while Hoff has been terminated from his staff position. Phil Weiler, WSU vice president of marketing and communications, told KREM 2, 'There's no place on our campus for people who may be disrespectful, may be unwilling to let people express their views.'
Sani said he is sharing the news 'because of how toxic the left has gotten.' The 2018 Pullman High School graduate, who also serves as president of the WSU College Republicans and secretary of the WSU chapter of the conservative group Turning Point USA, has pre-trial hearings scheduled for May 22 for Hoff and May 29 for Mahoney.
The Rebel Yellow has reached out to Sani for updates.
Trending on NextShark: Korean American astronaut Jonny Kim shares gochujang burger recipe from space
This story is part of The Rebel Yellow Newsletter — a bold weekly newsletter from the creators of NextShark, reclaiming our stories and celebrating Asian American voices.
Subscribe free to join the movement. If you love what we're building, consider becoming a paid member — your support helps us grow our team, investigate impactful stories, and uplift our community.
Trending on NextShark: Indian American student wearing pro-Trump hat attacked near WSU
Subscribe here now!
Download the NextShark App:
Want to keep up to date on Asian American News? Download the NextShark App today!
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Fox News
23 minutes ago
- Fox News
Kim Kardashian says immigrants in LA suffering 'fear and injustice' thanks to Trump immigration plan
Despite working with President Donald Trump on issues in the past, Kim Kardashian indicated on Friday she does not support his administration's immigration policy. In a recent Instagram post, the reality TV star condemned operations conducted by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), calling them "inhumane." "When we're told that ICE exists to keep our country safe and remove violent criminals — great. But when we witness innocent, hardworking people being ripped from their families in inhumane ways, we have to speak up. We have to do what's right," she stated in an Instagram story Friday. The Los Angeles native shared the post as her hometown continues to be shaken by violent anti-ICE riots that started last week in response to the federal law enforcement agency detaining illegal immigrants. DHS said ICE raids in L.A. over the weekend resulted in "hundreds of illegal aliens [being] arrested by ICE officers and agents," including "many with a criminal history and criminal convictions." Protests and clashes outside multiple locations in downtown L.A. have grown so chaotic that Trump ordered National Guard troops into the city, followed by several hundred U.S. Marines, to restore order. Some California officials, including Gov. Gavin Newsom, have accused the administration of exacerbating the situation. Despite the attacks on cops and other law enforcement officials by rioters, Kardashian argued in her post that immigrants are dealing with "fear and injustice" at the hands of the federal government. She added, "Growing up in LA, I've seen how deeply immigrants are woven into the fabric of this city. They are our neighbors, friends, classmates, coworkers, and family. No matter where you fall politically, it's clear that our communities thrive because of the contributions of immigrants. We can't turn a blind eye when fear and injustice keep people from living their lives freely and safely." "There HAS to be a BETTER way," Kardashian declared, concluding her post. The celebrity followed that post by sharing a video of pop star Doechii bashing Trump and ICE while accepting the of best female hip hop artist award at the BET Awards on Monday night. During her acceptance speech, the musician stated, "There are ruthless attacks that are creating fear and chaos in our communities in the name of law and order," she said. "Trump is using military forces to stop a protest, and I want y'all to consider what kind of government it appears to be when every time we exercise our democratic right to protest, the military is deployed against us." Despite Kardashian's harsh stance on Trump's immigration agenda, she has had a constructive relationship with him in the past. In 2019, she appeared at the White House alongside Trump to promote his criminal justice reform policies, calling them "magic." By that point, Kardashian had been at the White House several times to discuss criminal justice reform issues and successfully lobbied President Trump to pardon Alice Marie Johnson, who was serving life without parole for drug offenses. The White House did not immediately reply to Fox News Digital's request for comment.
Bloomberg
32 minutes ago
- Bloomberg
As Protests Spread, Both Parties Gird for Confrontation
This is Washington Edition, the newsletter about money, power and politics in the nation's capital. Today, senior editor Joe Sobczyk looks at the politics of the immigration protests. Sign up here and follow us at @bpolitics. Email our editors here. This is the fight President Donald Trump wanted. And, perhaps, his opponents as well
Fox News
33 minutes ago
- Fox News
LA Mayor Bass rips Trump, claims city part of 'national experiment' to test federal power amid anti-ICE riots
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass during a press conference on Wednesday claimed the LA riots were "provoked by the White House," going so far as speculating the city is part of a national experiment to determine how much power the federal government has. Bass claimed local officials initially heard the administration was searching for violent felons, gang members and drug dealers. Yet, she alleged federal agents were raiding workplaces, "tear[ing] parents and children apart" and "run[ning] armored caravans through [the] streets." Her comments came after protests against immigration enforcement escalated into fiery riots over the weekend, prompting President Donald Trump to deploy 2,000 National Guard troops and at least 500 Marines to the area. Local officials this week enacted a nightly curfew and announced hundreds of arrests, following the destruction of numerous local businesses and violence against police. "This was provoked by the White House," Bass said. "The reason why—we don't know. I posit that maybe we are part of a national experiment to determine how far the federal government can go in reaching in and taking over power from a governor, power from a local jurisdiction, and frankly, leaving our city and our citizens… in fear. … You're not trying to keep anyone safe, you're trying to cause fear and panic." She did not denounce the violent rioting during the press conference, alleging the rioting issue is contained to six square miles. "@MayorOfLA suggests things won't be 'peaceful' in Los Angeles until the Trump Administration stops enforcing immigration law and removing violent criminal illegals from the streets," the White House wrote in a response on X. "Why are these Radical Left lunatics so obsessed with defending criminals who have no right to be here?" The LA mayor was joined by multiple surrounding mayors and local officials from 30 cities, who argued Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) should not be enforcing the law in California. "We want the National Guard out of our region," said El Monte Mayor Jessica Ancona. "We want the military out of our region. They have no business here. And we also want ICE out of our cities. We need to keep our families safe." Downey Council Member Mario Trujillo and South Gate Mayor Maria Davila noted ICE raids continued in their cities on Wednesday. Huntington Park Mayor Arturo Flores claimed the Trump administration's actions were unconstitutional, and asked to send a message directly to the Marines on the ground. "The people that are here who have been called foreigners are not foreigners. These are Americans," Flores said. "When we lifted our hands, we swore the oath to defend the Constitution and to defend this country. That oath was to the American people. It was not to a dictator, it was not to a tyrant, it was not to a president. "It was to the American people and the people that are here … Whether they have a document or they don't, you're dealing with Americans," Flores said. "So please remember that if you're ever put in a situation or asked to do something." Bass later added Marines "are trained in warfare on foreign lands, not domestic," and said she did not know what role they could play without the ability to make arrests. Paramount Mayor Peggy Lemons said her city created a special fund Tuesday night that will financially help immigrant families. "The city council and staff are working tirelessly to develop other means of support and assistance, doing more to support our community," Lemons said. "We will also be seeking out our residents who have been directly impacted so that we may hear from them and provide direct support." The White House and Department of Defense did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's requests for comment.
