Without evidence, US President Donald Trump has claimed the elderly man shoved to the ground by New York police last week could be an "ANTIFA provocateur".
On Thursday last week, footage emerged, and quickly went viral, of 75-year-old man Martin Gugino being pushed backwards by police in the city of Buffalo, New York. The man falls to the ground, with a clear crack sound as his head hits the pavement. Blood can then be seen trickling from his head.
Two officers involved have pleaded not-guilty to assault while the rest of the Buffalo Police Department's Emergency Response Team have resigned in solidarity with the pair.
Trump has now tweeted saying the protester could be an "ANTIFA provocateur" and was "pushed away after appearing to scan police communications in order to black out the equipment",
"I watched, he fell harder than was pushed. Was aiming scanner. Could be a set up?" the President wrote.
Antifa, meaning anti-facist, is an umbrella term to describe those on the far-left.
A statement from Gugino's lawyer, Kelly Zarbone, on Wednesday (NZT) said the community activist remains hospitalised in a serious but stable condition.
"Martin has always been a peaceful protester because he cares about today's society. He is also a typical western New Yorker who loves his family. No one from law enforcement has even suggester anything otherwise so we are at a loss to understand why the President of the United States would make such dark, dangerous and untrue accusations against him."
Zarbone told local media the tweet was "ridiculous" and there was no truth to the "conspiracy theories and claims".
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has also said the tweet is "mean" and "irresponsible", while the city's mayor Bryon Brown said Buffalo was "focused on healing".
"We will not be distracted from this urgent work. Our focus on positive change is stronger than ever. My administration remains hopeful that Mr Gugino will experience a full recovery. And that the officers involved in this incident receive due process under law."
Many have voiced concern with Trump's tweets in the comments.
"Imagine the so-called president tweeting this crap. Ridiculous!" said one.
"This is really low and inhumane Trump."
"This is your worst tweet yet."
A local ABC broadcaster reported that Gugino was called a man of high ethical character by a man who was with him before the demonstration. However, it also says that Gugino's Twitter account - since taken down - had posts containing anti-police sentiments.
