- Jerry Edward Cox, 38, and Sean Purdy, 44, are facing assault charges over a July 4 incident at Lake Monroe, near Bloomington,
Indiana , involving civil rights activist Vauhxx Booker. - Booker published several clips on Facebook earlier this month where he said five men attacked him after he accidentally crossed over on to private property by the reservoir.
- He said the men threatened to "break his arms," yelled "get a noose," and "literally threaten to lynch" him.
Two white men in Indiana are facing assault charges tied to a July 4 incident in which civil rights activist Vauhxx Booker said he was the victim of an "attempted lynching," part of which was recorded and posted to Facebook.
The Monroe County Prosecutor's office announced charges against Jerry Edward Cox, 38, and Sean Purdy, 44, on Friday, following a review of evidence and a report from the state's Department of Natural Resources.
Booker, a member of the Monroe County Human Rights Commission, shared several clips on Facebook earlier this month, where he said five men attacked him on July 4 and "literally threaten to lynch" him. He said the men threatened to "break his arms," and yelled "get a noose" after he accidentally crossed over on to private property.
The incident happened on July 4, at a reservoir called Lake Monroe, near Bloomington, Indiana.
One video showed Booker on all fours next to a tree, held down by a white man. Another video showed a man calling someone off-camera a "nappy-headed b----" and "stupid f---ing liberal f---."
Mark Kamish, Purdy's attorney, told NBC News that Booker was on private land, and had punched Purdy.
"Indiana law allows citizens to make arrests of people punching other people on private property, and to use reasonable force in doing so. Indiana also has a broad self-defense statute," Kamish said.
An incident report from state investigators that was released before the charges were announced said Booker could also be charged with battery.
In a statement to Insider last week, Booker's lawyer said it was inappropriate for state investigators to release their report on the case before announcing charges.
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