I spoke to Stanhope, as he drove to the hospital for x-rays and treatment for the injuries sustained at the rally, and asked him what happened. Mr. Stanhope said that he was with a group of about 150 Tea Party activists across the street from the MoveOn.org-organized union rally. A union man with a bullhorn, Richard Andazola, 28, was yelling across the street at the Tea Party activists, calling them fascists.
Then one of the Tea Party activists, also bullhorn equipped, replied, ,i>We pay your salary!,/i>
This enraged Andazola, who, according to Stanhope, rushed the Tea Partiers, chanting Fascists go home! Fascists go home! He violently shoved Stanhope twice, the second time apparently striking Stanhope in the throat:
Somehow in the melee, Stanhopes hand was also injured
The union thug was later cited by law enforcement: