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Republican Club Vandalized Before Visit by Right-Wing Provocateur Republican Club Vandalized Before Visit by Right-Wing Provocateur
(35 minutes later)
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 Metropolitan Republican Club in Manhattan was vandalized early Friday, with windows broken and doors defaced with anarchist symbols, the police said. 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.”
“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, said Edward F. Cox, the chairman of the New York Republican Party.
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 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.
“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 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.
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 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.”
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 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.
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 the 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.In a text message, Mr. McInnes said the event would go on.
“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.“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.
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.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.
“These accounts have been suspended from Twitter and Periscope for violating our policy prohibiting violent extremist groups,” Twitter said at the time.“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.”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.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.”“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.”
The police said officers arrived at 2 a.m. and found two orange anarchy symbols spray-painted on the front doors, two broken windows, two bricks inside the building, glued locks and the note.
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.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.
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, 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.”