Members of the far-right extremist group Proud Boys instigated violence in Manhattan Friday night, after the group's leader, Gavin McInnes, gave a speech at the Metropolitan Republican Club. Videos of the violence recorded at the scene show members of the group kicking, punching and screaming discriminatory obscenities at anti-fascist protestors.
The instigators affiliation with Proud Boys was identified in their uniforms, the black polo with yellow lining. The members began attacking two anti-racist protestors near the corner of 3rd Avenue and 83rd street, while yelling homophobic slurs at the victims. In addition to screaming "faggot," the extremists shouted "you're dead, motherfucker," while taking turns beating the individuals.
The NYPD confirmed that three people were arrested as a result of the incident, however they were anti-racist protestors, not members of Proud Boys.
The group has coined themselves “Western chauvinists,” in their prejudiced efforts to further the mandates of the far-right. One of the members, Christopher Wright, continued recording his fellow group members after the fight had ended in which Proud Boys are heard saying "I like beer," in reference to Justice Brett Kavanaugh's comments made while being questioned about his alleged assault on Dr. Christine Blasey Ford. Many of the extremists contributing to the violence are seen wearing Trump's MAGA hats, which they proudly sported during a group photo while throwing up 'white power' hand symbols.
The Proud Boys gathered in the Upper East Side Friday for the group's leader Gavin McInnes' speech at the Metropolitan Republican Club. Earlier the same day, anti-facist protestors vandalized the clubhouse ahead of McInnes' planned appearance. The Antifa members returned to the venue to then protest McInnes and his followers, chanting "Kill More Nazis," in reference to the group's ideological affiliation with Nazism.
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When asked about granting McInnes a platform, the board chairman of the Metropolitan club, Ian Reilly, stated, "He is part of the right. We promote people and ideas of all kinds from the right. We're open to different views. We would never invite anyone who would incite violence."
Despite the clubhouse's fabricated views on inciting violence, McInnes, his supporters, and the platform he was undeservedly granted, did just that.
