Supporters of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan beat protesters once again, this time in New York City on Thursday.
Erdogan, who was in town for the United Nations General Assembly, spoke to the Turkish American National Steering Committee at the Marriott Marquis ballroom in Times Square when six protesters spoke up, the New York Times reports.
As security escorted the protesters out, nearby Erdogan supporters beat the protesters, including delivering several blows to the head of one man.
One protester yelled at Erdogan in English, "You’re a terrorist. Get out of my country!"
The protesters were supporters of the Kurdish People's Protection Units, groups which have been fighting ISIS in Syria and have been attacked by Turkish forces, according to the Times.
Meghan Bodette, who identified herself as one of six protesters (one of whom was filming), said their goal was "to call attention to the Turkish state’s war crimes and human rights abuses against the Kurdish people," both in Turkey and in Syria.
"Erdogan should not be able to speak here unchallenged, and we challenged him because the American people need to know that a state that claims to be our ally is hindering the fight against ISIS in Syria and destroying civilian lives," Ms. Bodette said in a Twitter message.
The Kurdish People's Protection Units have been supported extensively by the United States.
Cemil Akgun, 44, a Turkish textile producer who was in New York on a business trip and present at the event, said Erdogan appeared unfazed. The Turkish president resumed speaking less than two minutes after the the attack.
The New York Police Department said no arrests were made Thursday.
This isn't the first time Erdogan backers have been violent against protesters in the United States. In May, Turkish security officials at the Turkish Embassy in Washington, D.C. charged across the street into a park, and beat up peaceful protesters. Erdogan watched on from a car parked a few yards away.
Following the May event, the U.S. State Department said actions intended to limit free speech would not be tolerated on American soil. Erdogan accused American officers on the scene of bungling the situation.
Erdogan in recent years has been less than tolerant of his opponents, and has worked to suppress dissidents in Turkey, including journalists.