This article is from the source 'nytimes' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/12/nyregion/gavin-mcinnes-republican-club-vandalized.html

The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Republican Club Vandalized Before Visit by Right-Wing Provocateur Republican Club Vandalized Before Visit by Right-Wing Provocateur
(about 2 hours later)
The Metropolitan Republican Club in Manhattan was vandalized, with windows broken and doors defaced with anarchist symbols, before an appearance by a right-wing provocateur, Gavin McInnes, who was banned by Twitter for violating its policy on “violent extremist groups.” The Metropolitan Republican Club in Manhattan was vandalized early Friday, with windows broken and doors defaced with anarchist symbols. The destruction came hours before an appearance there by a right-wing provocateur, Gavin McInnes, who was banned by Twitter for violating its policy on “violent extremist groups.”
The defacement occurred either Thursday night or early Friday, according to Edward F. Cox, the chairman of the New York Republican Party. He said a police report had been filed. “I cannot recall something like this” ever happening, said Edward F. Cox, the chairman of the New York Republican Party.
“I cannot recall something like this” ever happening, Mr. Cox said. A note left with the vandalism suggested that the damage to the building on the Upper East Side was related to the appearance by Mr. McInnes, the founder of the Proud Boys. The Proud Boys, characterized as a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center, has engaged in several battles with the left.
A note left with the vandalism suggested that the damage to the building on the Upper East Side may have been related to the coming appearance by Mr. McInnes, the founder of the Proud Boys, an organization characterized as a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center. The group has engaged in several battles with the left. “The Metropolitan Republican Club chose to invite a hipster-fascist clown to dance for them, content to revel in their treachery against humanity,” the note said.
The note appeared to make reference to Mr. McInnes. “The Metropolitan Republican Club chose to invite a hipster-fascist clown to dance for them, content to revel in their treachery against humanity,” it said. In publicizing the event, the Republican group’s Facebook page called Mr. McInnes a “ Godfather of the Hipster Movement.” It also highlighted that he had been “banned from Twitter” and has “taken on and exposed the Deep State Socialists and stood up for Western Values.”
In publicizing Mr. McInnes’s appearance, the Republican group’s Facebook page called him “this Godfather of the Hipster Movement.” It also highlighted that he had been “banned from Twitter” and has “taken on and exposed the Deep State Socialists and stood up for Western Values.” And in an Instagram post promoting his appearance, Mr. McInnes wrote that he would be “re-enacting” the “inspiring moment” when the head of Japan’s Socialist Party was assassinated by samurai sword.
And in an Instagram post promoting the event, Mr. McInnes wrote that he would be “re-enacting” the “inspiring moment” when the head of Japan’s Socialist Party was assassinated by samurai sword. The event drew the attention of a group that calls itself the Metropolitan Anarchist Coordinating Council, which urged the Metropolitan Republican Club to cancel it.
The event drew attention of a group that calls itself the Metropolitan Anarchist Coordinating Council, which urged the Metropolitan Republican Club to cancel it. In a text message, Mr. McInnes said the event would go on.
Twitter had removed Mr. McInnes and accounts associated with the Proud Boys in August, before a rally in Washington that was cast as a sequel to the 2017 gathering of white nationalists in Charlottesville that had turned violent. “I think it’s shameful that these white kids would try to sabotage a ceremony commemorating the heroism of the great Otoya Yamaguchi and the samurais who inspired him,” he wrote.
“We can confirm that these accounts have been suspended from Twitter and Periscope for violating our policy prohibiting violent extremist groups,” Twitter said at the time. Twitter had removed Mr. McInnes and accounts associated with the Proud Boys in August, before a rally in Washington that was cast as a sequel to the 2017 gathering of white nationalists in Charlottesville, Va., that had turned violent.
The note found at the club also warned that “our attack is merely a beginning.” “These accounts have been suspended from Twitter and Periscope for violating our policy prohibiting violent extremist groups,” Twitter said at the time.
The note found at the club warned that “our attack is merely a beginning.”
“We are not passive, we are not civil, and we will not apologize,” it read.“We are not passive, we are not civil, and we will not apologize,” it read.
The note attacked both Democrats and Republicans, but opened by saying the vandals were putting the Republican Party “on notice.”The note attacked both Democrats and Republicans, but opened by saying the vandals were putting the Republican Party “on notice.”
Louis DeCaro, 66, a retired English teacher who lives across the street from the building, said he went outside to smoke at about 1:30 a.m. and heard a commotion.
“I heard breaking of the glass,” he said. “Then I saw two young men wearing sweatpants and sweat-hoods run away, toward Lexington Avenue. I called the police right away. I was appalled.”
There was a surveillance camera outside the building, but the police said they did not have video of the incident nor had they identified the vandals. The investigation was continuing.
The Metropolitan Republican Club is the home to both the statewide New York Republican Party and the Manhattan Republican Party, which is led by Andrea Catsimatidis, the former daughter-in-law of Mr. Cox.The Metropolitan Republican Club is the home to both the statewide New York Republican Party and the Manhattan Republican Party, which is led by Andrea Catsimatidis, the former daughter-in-law of Mr. Cox.
“It’s something that does not belong in politics and should be condemned by all Democratic candidates,” Mr. Cox said of the defacement of the building. Marcus J. Molinaro, the Republican nominee for governor in New York, called for Democrats to denounce the incident. “We must not revert to violence under any circumstances,” he said.
Marcus J. Molinaro, the Republican nominee for governor in New York, also called for Democrats to denounce the incident. “We must not revert to violence under any circumstances,” he said.
Democrats did just that. “New York Democrats have zero tolerance for violence in our political system and condemn this latest act of vandalism,” said Geoff Berman, the executive director of the state Democratic Party. “This type of divisiveness is repugnant to everything we believe as New Yorkers.”Democrats did just that. “New York Democrats have zero tolerance for violence in our political system and condemn this latest act of vandalism,” said Geoff Berman, the executive director of the state Democratic Party. “This type of divisiveness is repugnant to everything we believe as New Yorkers.”