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A man dressed in a Nazi uniform has been arrested after allegedly assaulting a woman during a confrontation outside a bar in downtown Athens, Georgia. The incident took place on Thursday night, just days before Halloween, and was captured in a video that quickly spread across social media. Details Of Incident The video showed a man wearing what appeared to be a Nazi uniform, including a red armband with a swastika, being pushed out of a bar by a woman. Moments later, several people confronted him, and one appeared to try removing his armband. The man then struck the woman across the face, the video shows. The man was later identified as Kenneth Leland Morgan, aged 32. Police records from the Athens-Clarke County Police Department confirm that Morgan was arrested around 2.56 am on October 24. He faces charges of aggravated assault and simple battery, and his bond was listed at $1,500, according to The Red & Black, the University of Georgia’s student newspaper. Victim’s Account Speaking to The Red & Black, the victim said that one of her Jewish friends first noticed the swastika armband and began arguing with the man. She said she tried to step in and remove the armband, calling it the “identifying factor” of the offensive costume. According to the victim, the situation turned violent when Morgan struck her with what she described as a “large glass pitcher.” “He is grinning ear to ear the entire time, including while assaulting me. He continued to try and pull and hit me but was pulled off by my friends,” she said. She added that the bar did not use glass pitchers, so she was unsure where the man got it from. Social Media Reactions The Young Democrats of UGA and ACC condemned the attack in a statement posted on Instagram. “The Young Democrats of UGA and ACC are greatly disturbed to learn that early Friday morning, 32-year-old Kenneth Leland (Lee) Morgan decided to spew antisemitic hate and physically assault women in full Nazi uniform downtown,” the group wrote. They further added, “Nazis and antisemites like Lee have no place in our community, and it is up to all of us to call out this filth when it appears. We hope that Lee’s felony aggravated assault charge dissuades other Nazis from showing their faces in our city.” While most online users expressed anger and disgust over the assault, some individuals defended Morgan’s right to wear the Nazi costume. One user wrote, “I stand with the brave man in Athens who decided to wear a Nazi costume. Takes some balls.” Another commented, “That woman needs to be arrested for assault. She doesn’t understand freedom of speech… The guy in the Nazi uniform looks very good on him!” Bar Owner’s Statement The altercation occurred outside Cutter’s Pub, whose owner confirmed that the man was denied entry. “In a statement to The Red & Black, the owner said, “At Cutter’s Pub, our top priority is customer safety, and we will continue to do everything we can to make everyone feel safe and welcomed. We pride ourselves on being a diverse crowd and serving everyone who walks through the door with respect.” Get Latest News Live on Times Now along with Breaking News and Top Headlines from US News and around the World.
