Buffalo Activist Shoved by Cops in 2020 Protest Dies at 81

Martin Gugino's lawsuit against Buffalo police, city will continue after his death

Apr. 9, 2026 at 7:57pm

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A close-up painting of a solitary protest sign lying on the ground, the edges softened by warm light and deep shadows, conveying a sense of melancholy and the aftermath of a confrontation.The discarded remnants of a protest highlight the lasting impact of a violent police encounter that sparked national outrage.Buffalo Today

Martin Gugino, a protester whose violent encounter with Buffalo police drew national attention in 2020 when he was pushed to the ground during a Black Lives Matter demonstration outside Buffalo City Hall and left bleeding from the head in a widely shared video, has died at the age of 81 in Tampa, Florida. Gugino died of natural causes, according to his lawyer.

Why it matters

Gugino's case highlighted concerns about police use of force against peaceful protesters and the broader issues of racial justice and police accountability that were at the heart of the 2020 Black Lives Matter protests. His death will not stop the ongoing lawsuit against the Buffalo police and city, which his lawyer says will continue.

The details

In June 2020, Gugino, a longtime peace activist, was participating in a protest outside Buffalo City Hall when he was shoved to the ground by two police officers. The incident was captured on video and went viral, drawing national attention. Gugino suffered a head injury and was hospitalized in serious condition. The two officers involved were suspended without pay, and Gugino later filed a lawsuit against the Buffalo police department and the city.

  • On June 4, 2020, Gugino was shoved to the ground by police during a protest in Buffalo.
  • Gugino died on March 9, 2026 in Tampa, Florida at the age of 81.

The players

Martin Gugino

An 81-year-old longtime peace activist in Buffalo, New York who was violently shoved to the ground by police during a 2020 protest, sustaining a head injury that drew national attention.

Vicki Ross

A representative of the Western New York Peace Center, where Gugino was an important member of the peace movement.

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What they’re saying

“We're all very saddened. He was so important to the Peace Center, to the peace movement. He was such an earnest, hard-working dedicated person. He was through and through about making the world a better place.”

— Vicki Ross, Representative, Western New York Peace Center

What’s next

Gugino's lawsuit against the Buffalo police department and the city of Buffalo will continue despite his death, according to his lawyer.

The takeaway

Gugino's death is a tragic loss for the peace movement and the fight for police accountability, but his case will live on through the ongoing lawsuit that seeks to hold the Buffalo police responsible for the violent incident that drew national attention and sparked further protests against police brutality.