Cyclist who assaulted girl posting protest signs is 'sick with remorse'

A cyclist who was recorded assaulting a group of young people has spoken out about his remorse over the incident.

On Friday, 60-year-old Anthony Brennan III was arrested by police after he was caught on camera assaulting a group of young people who had reportedly been putting up posters of protest against the murder of George Floyd.

Per the Huffington Post, Brennan has since been charged with three counts of second-degree assault after a video of the incident went viral, sparking outrage online and prompting a community effort to identify the perpetrator. 

You can see the upsetting incident below:

Now, Brennan's lawyers have released a statement from their client.

In the statement shared with TIME, Brennan states: "I am sick with remorse for the pain and fear I caused the victims on the trail, and online."

Brennan adds that he is "cooperating fully with authorities" and is "committed to making amends by addressing, through counseling, the underlying issues that led to my abhorrent behavior".

He added: "I am dedicated to working with the Montgomery County State Attorney's Office to provide peace to our community and justice to the victims in the video, as well as to all victims of racism and police brutality."

In an extensive statement, Marland National Capital Park Police provided further information around the background of the incident. As they explained:

"On Monday, June 1, 2020 at approximately 12:45 p.m., three young adults were walking the Capital Crescent Trail near the Dalecarlia Tunnel. The young adults, one male and two females, were posting flyers reference a call for community action.

"The suspect described as a white male began to argue about the flyers and forcibly grabbed the flyers from one of the victims. Before leaving the scene, the suspect pushed his bicycle towards the male victim and caused him to fall to the ground."

The original video, which has been widely circulated across social media, shocked viewers due to the apparent unprovoked nature of the attack.

In the clip, Brennan can be seen repeatedly trying to grab something from a young woman while another she yells at him to stop, before charging at her male companion and knocking him to the ground. In a week largely defined by violence against peaceful protestors, the clip struck a chord.

 

In addition to providing extra details on the case itself, Marland National Capital Park Police praised community members for the "abundance of tips and information shared" to help identify the man responsible.

It is unknown what the possible sentence would be, were Anthony Brennan III to be found guilty.

Credit: 4818

Unrest continues to unfold across the US, as protests - some peaceful, some violent - are calling out the systemic injustices carried out against black people, not least seen by the recent deaths of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, and Breonna Taylor.

As well as a call for justice, these ongoing protests are also demanding an end to police brutality and the racism that is so deeply entrenched in America and the western world.

The message is simple: Black lives matter.

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