An 80-year-old military veteran says he was surrounded by anti-ICE protesters and knocked to the ground while holding a sign supporting federal immigration enforcement at a Washington state demonstration, prompting a sheriff's investigation into the incident.The veteran, who requested anonymity out of fear of retaliation, told The Highline Journal he attended the June 10 protest in Burien, a suburb in King County, Washington, located just 12 miles south of downtown Seattle, to peacefully express support for U.S.Immigration and Customs Enforcement when a confrontation with demonstrators escalated."Video reviewed by The Highline Journal shows a woman directing repeated verbal attacks toward the veteran through a loudspeaker, a man wearing a shirt reading ‘Anti-Fascism - No Kings in America’ engaging him during the confrontation, and a woman striking the veteran from behind before he fell to the ground while shouting, ‘You're down! You are down!’" the outlet reported.ANTI-ICE MINNEAPOLIS AGITATORS SET UP CHECKPOINT TO TRACK FEDERAL AGENTSA protestor lifts a sign in front of a dumpster that was set on fire during a protest against federal immigration arrests on June 11, 2025, in Seattle, Washington.
(Rio Giancarlo/Getty Images)The veteran told The Highline Journal he was present at the event, reportedly promoted by Des Moines, WA Indivisible, holding a small sign supporting ICE and exercising what he considered to be his First Amendment right, saying, "After all, it's about love, not hate."According to the veteran, not everyone at the protest was combative, but the situation changed when additional protesters arrived, with one woman with a loudspeaker singling the veteran out and verbally attacking him.The veteran said a group of roughly 10 to 12 people surrounded him before taking him to the ground.He recalled hearing someone in the crowd tell others to "just ignore him" during the confrontation.DEMOCRATS WHO RALLIED AT ‘NO KINGS’ PROTESTS APPLAUD KING CH...