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Visit of Proud Boys Founder Gavin McInnes to Republican Club Leads to Vandalism, Arrests Fight Breaks Out Near Republican Club After Visit by Gavin McInnes, Police Say
(about 3 hours later)
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.” Three people were charged with assault in connection with a fight on Friday near the Metropolitan Republican Club in Manhattan after the appearance of a right-wing provocateur, the police said.
“I cannot recall something like this” ever happening, said Edward F. Cox, the chairman of the New York Republican Party. Doors had been defaced with anarchist symbols and windows had been broken at the club hours before an appearance there by the provocateur, Gavin McInnes, who was banned by Twitter for violating its policy on “violent extremist groups.”
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 Southern Poverty Law Center has characterized it as a hate group that 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.
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. The Police Department said it assigned its Strategic Response Group to a protest at the club, which is the home to both the statewide New York Republican Party and the Manhattan Republican Party. There were no incidents reported there, the police said.
“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. The police said three men were arrested after officers leaving the protest saw an assault taking place at 8:40 p.m. at the corner of Third Avenue and East 84th Street, not far from the club.
The police said three men were arrested after a fight at 8:40 p.m. at the corner of Third Avenue and East 84th Street, not far from the Metropolitan Republican Club. No one was hospitalized.
Finbarr Slonim, 20, of Manhattan and Kai Russo, 20, of Brooklyn were each charged with robbery and assault. Caleb Perkins, 35, of Manhattan was charged with robbery, assault and resisting arrest, the police said.Finbarr Slonim, 20, of Manhattan and Kai Russo, 20, of Brooklyn were each charged with robbery and assault. Caleb Perkins, 35, of Manhattan was charged with robbery, assault and resisting arrest, the police said.
Officials said they could not confirm whether those arrested were associated with a particular group. Officials said they could not confirm whether those arrested were associated with a particular group. No one was hospitalized.
The police said they were reviewing video footage to “determine if other crimes were committed.”
“There is no tolerance for violence anywhere in New York City and the N.Y.P.D. will do everything in its power to ensure public safety,” the police said in a statement.
Members of the City Council called on anyone who committed violence to be arrested.
Rory I. Lancman, a councilman from Queens who is the chairman of the Council’s committee on the justice system, said that video showing who he believes to be members of the Proud Boys beating someone should result in additional arrests.
“How could we not arrest and prosecute white supremacists committing hate crimes in Manhattan?” Mr. Lancman asked in an interview. “The police rolled up and didn’t arrest anyone.”
Corey Johnson, the Council speaker, said he is glad that the police are investigating further.
“New York City needs to send a message that violence and bigotry are not welcome anywhere in America and certainly not here in the five boroughs,” Mr. Johnson said in a statement.
Letitia James, the public advocate, who is also the Democratic nominee for attorney general, also called on the police and the Manhattan district attorney’s office to investigate what she called “hate-fueled mob violence.”
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.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 what happened 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. “I cannot recall something like this” ever happening, said Edward F. Cox, the chairman of the New York Republican Party. Andrea Catsimatidis, his former daughter-in-law, leads the Manhattan Republican Party.
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. “We must not revert to violence under any circumstances,” said Marcus J. Molinaro, the Republican nominee for governor in New York, who called for Democrats to denounce the episode.
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.”