The Texas Democratic Party in Lubbock County has released a video showing several young men in an altercation with one of its volunteers and yelling racially derogatory remarks at the volunteer, who was looking out for people vandalizing signs in support of President Obama.
Party officials identified the volunteer as Leo Flores, who is Hispanic. He can be heard on the video speaking with police before and after the altercation.
The incident occurred at about 2 a.m. Wednesday. The volunteer was attempting to videotape the theft of the party's signs. On Sunday, the party reported that Obama signs had been defaced with mustard and racial slurs -- with the N-word written all over them.
On the video, the vandals can be heard yelling "Romney!" presumably to indicate their preference for the Republican presidential candidate. They appeared to drive off, but then returned to the scene where the signs were damaged. As they approached the volunteer, one can be heard calling the man a "coon."
Then one of the men walked up to the volunteer and punched him in the face, causing the camera to temporarily cease filming the incident. Afterward, one of the men can be heard telling him to "go back to Mexico" before a shout of "viva la Mexico" can be heard.
Ketner said local police are investigating the incident. A call placed to the police spokesman was not immediately returned.
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