Student tied to protest violence in video footage

A New York ABC television affiliate captured footage of a Republican Youth Convention attendee dragging to the ground and kicking an AIDS activist who had entered the event undercover as part of a larger protest against the George W. Bush administration.

The student in the video, whose name was unknown at the time the footage was taken, has been identified by several Penn students as Wharton junior Scott Robinson, a member of the Penn College Republicans.

In video clips on the Internet, the student is seen grabbing for a female protester and helping to drag her to the ground. He is later shown making a kicking motion toward the girl on the ground, while the television reporter commented that he was kicking her.

When asked on camera after the incident if he kicked a protester, the student replied, "I don't believe so." He had no response when he was told that the image was captured on tape.

The protesters were removed from the event within minutes by security and Secret Service agents. It was not until later that the video footage emerged.

"Having seen Scott at a number of events, and having seen the video, I think it looks like him," said Stephanie Steward, a College senior and chairwoman of the College Republicans. "But I can't say absolutely positively."

Despite repeated calls, Robinson could not be reached for comment. However, he previously denied to Reason Magazine that he was even in attendance at the Republican Youth Convention, which occurred on Sept. 1 at Madison Square Garden. Robinson told the magazine that though he was working as a volunteer at the Republican National Convention, he had been out late the night before and did not attend the event.

The College Republicans have distanced themselves from the incident.

"Our group strongly condemns violence, politically motivated or otherwise. This incident is between two individuals at a private event and will be resolved between those two individuals. It in no way involves the Penn College Republicans," a group statement read.

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