Simon Dunn, the gay 37-year-old Washington, D.C., military veteran who became a symbol of the anti-Trump resistance after video circulated of him tossing a wrapped Subway sandwich at a federal officers chest, avoided a misdemeanor assault conviction when a jury decided on Thursday to acquit him of all charges.Viral video taken on August 10 showed Dunn, an Air Force veteran who served in Afghanistan, yelling at Border Patrol Officer Greg Lairmore, saying, Why are you here?! I dont want you in my city! and calling Lairmore and his fellow agents fascists before hurling a Subway sandwich at Lairmore and running off. Lairmore and the officers then chased after him. Related Trumps authoritarian DC crackdown is hurting the districts LGBTQ+ nightlife Dunn was subsequently charged with a felony and fired from his job as a lawyer with the U.S. Justice Department. Coverage of the incident by right-wing media wasblatantly homophobic, with The New York Post accusing Dunn of throwing a hysterical hissyfit and gesturing wildly with his lunch meat. A witness who recorded video of Dunns actions claimed Dunn was drunk during the incident.The federal government sought felony assault charges against Dunn, but a federal grand jury failed to indict him. So instead, Dunn was charged with a misdemeanor charge of assaulting or impeding a federal officer. After athree-day trial, a jury found Dunn not guilty yesterday. Never Miss a Beat Subscribe to our newsletter to stay ahead of the latest LGBTQ+ political news and insights. Subscribe to our Newsletter today Lairmore told jurors that Dunns sandwich exploded all over his chest, leaving him with the scent of mustard and onions. But a photo of the sandwich showed that it stayed in its wrapper after it hit Lairmore in his bulletproof vest and landed on the ground, NBC News reported.Dunns defense attorney also noted that Lairmore received two gag gifts after the incident: a plush sandwich and a patch of a drawing of Dunn throwing the sandwich with the words Felony Footlong. Dunns defense attorney said the gifts demonstrated that Lairmore didnt consider the assault or its effects too serious. Dunns actions went viral, not only in video, but also in street art in D.C. and beyond, showing male figures preparing to throw the wrapped hero sandwich. The iconic and humorous image came to represent larger anger at the Trump administrations needless deployment of federal troops into generally peaceful and Democratic-led cities.I am so happy that justice prevails in spite of everything happening, Dunn told reporters after the verdict. That night I believe I was protecting the rights of immigrants.Jeanine Pirro, the U.S. attorney in Washington, D.C., said in a statement, As always, we accept a jurys verdict; that is the system within which we function. However, law enforcement should never be subjected to assault, no matter how minor. Even children know when they are angry, they are not allowed to throw objects at one another.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.