Members of far-right group Proud Boys could face hate crimes charges over violent attack
Police are considering hate crime charges against supporters of a white nationalist group who were filmed attacking people and shouting homophobic slurs.
Members of the far-right Proud Boys were involved in a violent incident in New York City on Friday (October 12).
Video footage filmed by photojournalist Sandi Bachom and uploaded on YouTube appears to show Proud Boys supporters in a violent scuffle after an event hosted by the group founder Gavin McInnes at Manhattan’s Metropolitan Republican Club.
File photo. Proud Boys founder Gavin McInnes at a rally (Stephanie Keith/Getty)
The video shows people kicked and punched to the ground by Proud Boys supporters, one block away from the event venue. The slur “f**king faggot” can be heard as the attack takes place.
The Daily Beast reports that the victims of the attack may have been members of left-wing antifascist “antifa” groups.
The New York Police Department announced on Monday that it has enough evidence to charge nine members of the far-right group over the brawl.
According to the Daily Beast, police commissioner James O’Neill told a briefing: “The video images that everybody saw from Friday night are certainly disturbing and outrageous.
“There is certainly no place for that kind of violence or disorder anywhere in New York City. We will make arrests, but quite frankly we need the public’s help.”
O’Neill did not rule out hate crime charges, adding: “We’re still in the process of investigating. We want to talk to as many people as possible before we make that characterisation.”
File photo. Proud Boys founder Gavin McInnes at a rally (Elijah Nouvelage/Getty)
Police arrested three other individuals, who were protesting the Proud Boys event, on charges of assault, harassment, and petit larceny over a separate incident against supporters of the far-right group.
Governor of New York Andrew Cuomo has directed the State Police Hate Crimes Unit to coordinate with the FBI and NYPD on the attack.
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