The violence Friday night followed a speech by Gavin McInnes (pictured above on June 10, 2017), the founder of the Proud Boys, at the Metropolitan Republican Club. The male-only Proud Boys describe themselves as “western chauvinists.”
Videos posted on YouTube show clashes between the Proud Boys and groups that were protesting McInnes’ speech.
No serious injuries were reported. Separately, in Portland on Saturday night, the Proud Boys and another right-wing group, Patriot Prayer, fought in the streets with antifascist protesters.
The three arrested face assault charges and are awaiting arraignment Saturday in Manhattan criminal court. Police spokesman J. Peter Donald said the department was reviewing video and would make other arrests as warranted.
Several elected officials expressed outrage over the violence and blamed the Proud Boys, which has been designated as a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center.
“Authorities must review these videos immediately and make arrests and prosecute as appropriate,” Gov. Andrew Cuomo, a Democrat, said. “Hate cannot and will not be tolerated in New York.”
New York City Public Advocate Letitia James, a Democrat who is running for state attorney general, said, “I am disturbed and disgusted by the videos I’ve seen of members of the neo-fascist, white supremacist Proud Boys group engaging in hate-fueled mob violence on the streets of New York City.”
City Councilman Rory Lancman, also a Democrat, said video shows police officers were at the scene of an assault by Proud Boys members but did not arrest anyone from the group.
“It is revolting to see white supremacists commit a hate crime on the streets of New York City — in full view of the NYPD — and for none of them to be arrested or prosecuted,” Lancman said.
The Republican club was vandalized ahead of Friday’s speech by McInnes, who is also a co-founder of Vice Media. Statewide Republican officials said the damage included smashed windows, a spray-painted door and a keypad lock covered in glue. A note left at the scene claimed that the damage was “just the beginning.”
Am I the only one who thinks “Gavin McInnes” (if that IS his real name), is just Gary Oldman playing one of his patented badguys?
This story may get weirder.
If only the Democrats were more civil then this kind of thing wouldn’t happen.
The Metropolitan Republican Club once had a honorable history with members like John Lindsey, Jacob Javits, Louis Lefkowitz Bill Green and Roy Goodman. All of whom stood up to this kind of thuggish behavior. It goes to show you what the Republican Party has become over the past 30-40 years. From the party of Lincoln to the party of Robert E. Lee and Jefferson Davis.
Even more importantly I have seen reports that police did nothing while the assaults were occurring. I hope Mayor DeBlasio is finding out why police officers stood by while people were being harmed.