Florida Congressman Maxwell Alejandro Frost recently experienced the increasingly dangerous political climate. He was assaulted during a private event at the Sundance Film Festival after an unidentified man reportedly made racist comments and referenced President Trump’s immigration policies. According to multiple outlets, the 28-year-old attacker confronted Frost in a restroom, where he allegedly boasted about being white and later told the congressman that “Trump was going to deport” him.
Frost wrote in a Jan. 24 post: "Last night, I was assaulted by a man at Sundance Festival who told me that Trump was going to deport me before he punched me in the face. He was heard screaming racist remarks as he drunkenly ran off. The individual was arrested and I am okay."
Witnesses at the Creative Artists Agency (CAA) party in Utah said the man punched Frost in the face as he exited the bathroom, prompting security to intervene and remove the assailant. Several attendees confirmed seeing the strike, and the incident quickly spread across social media.
He urged the public to stay vigilant and not be intimidated by acts of hate.
Frost's fraternity Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Incorporated, released a statement saying, "we unequivocally condemn the recent act of violence committed against Sigma Brother and United States Congressman, Bro. Maxwell Alejandro Frost during a private event at the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah. Violence, intimidation, and threats directed at any individual, particularly those engaged in public service, represent a dangerous assault on democratic participation and the rule of law."
The motive for the attack has not yet been formally confirmed, but the combination of racial comments and political threats has raised concerns about escalating hostility toward public officials of color.