Woman with cane and passerby fight with “First Amendment defenders” in front of post office in Brentwood

LOS ANGELES – A group of self-proclaimed “First Amendment defenders” got into a fight with two customers at a Brentwood post office on Tuesday morning. A man who rushed to help had to be taken to the hospital. The fight was captured on video.

It happened around 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday, just as the post office was opening. Josh Paris went to the post office to check his mailbox. As he did so, he saw a costumed man come out with a camera crew.

Paris pulled out his camera and asked the man in an all-white costume and visor why he was there. The costumed man said he was there for “freedom of speech” and “First Amendment rights.” He and his team are self-proclaimed “First Amendment Auditors” for an online group called Impact Media.

Shortly after Paris' first interaction with the man, chaos broke out.

“It was so surreal, unusual and shocking to see this,” Parris said.

It started with an elderly woman hitting the group with her cane, scaring them away. Then, Paris said, a passerby named Robert jumped to the woman's aid. The video crew then attacked Robert, with one man putting him in a chokehold while another man wearing a fake beard swung at him. Robert was then taken to the ground while another member of the crew repeatedly kicked Robert's head.

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Paris said he and several others called 911 and one of the attackers fled. When LAPD officers arrived, the man who fled returned while the camera was rolling. Officers handcuffed him and two other crew members and paramedics took Robert to the hospital.

“He was having trouble moving his neck and he was hyperventilating,” Paris said. “Then, after a few minutes, his breathing became more labored and I could see he probably needed medical attention, which he eventually got.”

Many witnesses told FOX 11 they believed the fight was part of a Hollywood stunt. Robert spoke to FOX 11's Hailey Winslow later in the day and told her, “Anyone who thinks this is a set-up can look at my medical records.”

Robert was released from the hospital later Tuesday and said he was in contact with his attorney and intends to press charges.