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Islip Forward says its deputy director, Joshua Chan, was physically assaulted by the chief of staff for Suffolk Legislator Sam Gonzalez, during an event led by the legislator with guest speaker New York state Sen. Monica Martinez Friday.
News 12 has reached out to both Gonzalez and Martinez for comment and what led to the alleged altercation.
MORE: Video of the incident
State Sen. Martinez sent News 12 a statement:
"Today, an individual gained entry to a ticketed International Women’s Day event where I was an invited speaker by using false credentials and a disguise in order to confront state and local officials. This type of behavior should concern all of us.
At a time when political tensions are high and threats against public officials are rising, misrepresenting your identity to gain access to an event creates an unnecessary risk for everyone involved. Situations like this are one of the reasons I ‘ve sponsored legislation currently pending in the state legislature to strengthen protections for public servants.
The national debate over immigration enforcement has become increasingly heated, and it is clear the issue is stirring strong emotions across Long Island. Immigration policy is an important issue that deserves serious debate with the federal representatives who have the authority to change it, but a women’s luncheon with state and county officials is not the place for it."
Ahmad Perez, of Islip Forward, told News 12 that the group has made great efforts to reach local elected officials for months with no reply, to discuss the ICE activity on Long Island.
"We have attempted to chat," Perez said. "We have attempted to raise real, valid concerns of their constituents being abducted, being abused in detention centers, and because of no response, we showed up in person. And this is exactly how they treated us. They choked our volunteers out by the neck and forced them out of the room."
Legislator Gonzalez also released a statement, saying that Chan "deliberately disrupted" the event and disguised himself as a Muslim woman to get inside.
"Today, what should have been a meaningful celebration of women’s heritage and community was deliberately disrupted by the reckless and threatening actions of Joshua Chan and his associates. Let me be unequivocally clear: Joshua Chan was not invited to this event. He gained access under false pretenses, specifically, by disguising himself as a Muslim woman, wearing a hijab during the holy month of Ramadan.
This was not an oversight. This was a calculated act of deception that showed profound disrespect for Muslim religious symbols and the millions of Muslims observing one of the most sacred times of their faith. To weaponize a religious garment for political infiltration is deeply offensive and beneath contempt. Joshua Chan had to be physically removed from the premises because of his violent behavior toward an elected official. That is not protest. That is not activism. That is dangerous, unacceptable conduct that has no place in our political discourse or in our community."
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