Metropolitan Anarchist Coordinating Council Statement on Proud Boy Attack

A statement from the Metropolitan Anarchist Coordinating Council (MACC) on the recent outburst of Proud Boys violence, posturing by politicians, and actions of the police.

This past Friday, a group of 30 Proud Boys—members of a violent,  self-proclaimed “Western chauvinist” fascist organization led by Gavin McInnes—surrounded and violently attacked several of our comrades while they lay on the sidewalk on the Upper East Side of Manhattan. During this attack, more than one Proud Boy shouted the homophobic slur “faggot” at the people they repeatedly stomped on and punched. In response to this textbook example of assault as a hate crime, the dozens of cops present proceeded to pat the Proud Boys on the shoulders to let them know that the cameras had had their fill. By the end of the night, no Proud Boys were arrested, and several anti-fascist protesters were hauled away in handcuffs. Infuriating? Yes. Surprising? No.

Due to some windows getting smashed and some circle ‘A’s being spray-painted on the Metropolitan Republican Club’s doors, the police were on high alert for any anti-fascist or anti-authoritarian activity on the night of the assault. Effectively, if a person was there to protest the Republican Club’s sponsored reenactment of an ultra-nationalist disemboweling a socialist, they were automatically on NYPD’s radar as a suspect of the previous night’s property damage. So, when a mob of attendees of the Republican Club’s event began stomping on anti-fascist protesters and screaming homophobic slurs after exiting the assassination celebration, the cops did what they were told: keep an eye on the people in all black, and make sure the people leaving the Republican Club get out safely.

How come no one is talking about how the dox of the Proud Boys who attacked protesters at the Metropolitan Republican Club was bylined "Gritty" and the bio just said "it gritty"? pic.twitter.com/APCbm8DnyC

— AntiFash Gordon (@AntiFashGordon) October 15, 2018

Ultimately, the Metropolitan Republican Club, the NYPD, and the Proud Boys all have the same objective: maintain the status quo, whether it be with racialized economic policies or plastic samurai swords. The Proud Boys are just acting out a cop’s lunch break fantasies, or a Trump supporter’s wish to Make America Great Again by clearing the streets of opposition. But this political amalgamation has already faced and lost the streets to anti-fascists, in Charlottesville, D.C., and across the country.

Don't worry @KaiRoberts8 (Kai Roberts), we missed you in the first round but we got you in the second! You can join all of your Proud Boy friends as we #DoxxAllYourBoys. No need to feel left out of the fun! pic.twitter.com/ADMgQzhOvn

— New York City Antifa (@NYCAntifa) October 15, 2018

It is because of these successes that we must rebuff liberal and centrist calls for FBI and NYPD investigations or prosecutions. No arm of the state will serve meaningful justice in this situation, especially when the whole damn system is rotten to its core. Anti-fascist doxxing campaigns fulfill the very role that the NYPD is being called upon to perform. We don’t need to rely on cops to intervene, we can—and will—do it ourselves. We keep us safe.

While we would find a prosecution comically entertaining, we request that the governor and any other momentary sympathizers furnish us with the conditions to actually fight fascism: abolish the police, and let us get to work.

– MACC (Metropolitan Anarchist Coordinating Council)
New York City / October 15, 2018