VIDEO: Activists and cops clash in NYC; Central Park statues vandalized with anti-police graffiti



Social justice demonstrations in New York City deteriorated into physical altercations with NYPD officers and a Central Park statue dedicated to American sailors who lost their lives was desecrated with anti-police graffiti.

Hundreds of activists and protesters marched Thursday night in New York City, with some carrying signs that read "Justice for Ma'Khia Bryant," others waving Black Lives Matter flags, and some were part of a black trans lives matter demonstration, according to the Daily Mail.

"The crowd was part of the Stonewall Protests, which gathers weekly outside the iconic Greenwich Village bar," the New York Post reported. "The group describes itself as "black queer and black trans activists centered on the acknowledgment of all black life" on Instagram."

#HappeningNow Activists March down midtown Manhattan Filmed and owned by leeroy #manhattan #blm #georgefloyd https://t.co/O7TW9jpSWo
— Leeroy Johnson (@Leeroy Johnson)1619141882.0

At one point, there were tense confrontations between dozens of protesters and police officers. Video from independent photojournalist Leeroy Johnson shows cops getting doused with an unidentified liquid, and there were sounds of a person spitting during the dust-up. One individual screams at the cops, "What the f*** is wrong with you?"

Content warning: rough language

Chaos Erupts at protest in NYC. Multiple arrests were made Filmed and owned by leeroy Johnson #NewYork #BLM… https://t.co/BxHOlngcd3
— Leeroy Johnson (@Leeroy Johnson)1619150328.0

Protesters converged near Central Park, where they appear to wave flags for the counties of Nigeria and Jamaica, as well as Black Lives Matter, and one that represents the transgender community. Vandals defaced the USS Maine Monument with red paint made to look like blood and anti-police terms such as "ACAB (All Cops Are Bastards)" and "F*** 12," which is an anti-law enforcement slogan often used by Antifa members.

The USS Maine Monument honors the 266 American sailors of the USS Maine, a U.S. battleship that sank in Havana, Cuba, in 1898.

"We respect's everyone right to peacefully protest, but vandalism is not part of peaceful protest," the New York Police Department wrote on Twitter. "We are working to de-escalate the situation to prevent further damage from occurring."

Six people were arrested by the NYPD on charges ranging from assault to damage to public property, WABC-TV reported. No injuries to demonstrators or police, a police spokesman told Fox News.

We respect's everyone right to peacefully protest, but vandalism is not part of peaceful protest. We are working to… https://t.co/ETTBFnV9uK
— NYPD NEWS (@NYPD NEWS)1619146919.0

Activists marched through midtown Manhattan, including in front of the New York Times headquarters, where they chanted, "F*** the New York Times!"

Antifa blamed for NYC Republican Club vandalism same day historic group planned Christmas, Hanukkah celebration



Antifa militants are being blamed for vandalism at the historic Metropolitan Republican Club in New York City — not only because the GOP group supports President Donald Trump but also because the club scheduled a celebration of Christmas and Hanukkah the same day, Fox News reported.

What are the details?

The club held its annual "Christmas and Hanukkah Social" on Thursday evening, but the cable network said when members arrived they saw anarchist graffiti and Antifa symbols spray-painted in red across the entrance to the building — along with the phrase, "You're canceled" on the dark double doors:

Image source: Twitter video screenshot via @spotnews_tv

Fox News also said a circle with three arrows — a symbol often used by Antifa based on 1930s German anti-fascist resistance movement symbolism — was spray painted on the sidewalk. In addition, the letters "ACAB" — which stands for "all cops are bastards" — was spray painted on the building, the network said.

Black bags symbolizing dead bodies of non-white COVID-19 victims were left on the sidewalk, Fox News added.

The Metropolitan Republican Club in Manhattan was vandalized with antifa graffiti. The vandals left fake body bags… https://t.co/F4q6wYzCj9
— Andy Ngô (@Andy Ngô)1607435605.0

What did the club have to say?

"I am deeply disturbed and disgusted at this attack," club president Ian Walsh Reilly told the cable network, adding that members came together that night "under social guidelines."

"We were then having a celebration of religion — of Christianity and Judaism and their holidays — and that was the date they chose to attack the Met Club," Reilly added to Fox News. "It shows such intolerance from the very people who say they are anti-fascist."

In a Twitter statement, the club called the perpetrators "cowards":

Statement regarding last nights attack on the Metropolitan Republican Club. https://t.co/kAnXXNJaS0
— Metropolitan Republican Club (@Metropolitan Republican Club)1607032287.0

Fox News said New York City police are investigating, and Reilly told the network that four black-clad men clad carried out the deed in the darkness of the early morning.

"We do openly put the words 'Christmas' and 'Hanukkah' in the title of the party because we should be open and honest," he added to Fox News. "This is a celebration of two wonderful religions, and as the club is the most visible symbol of the Republican party in New York City — a city that is becoming more and more intolerant of opposing opinions — I am afraid that is going to continue."

#HappeningNow Red paint stains the Metropolitan #GOP headquarters on the #UES—vandalized ahead of tonight’s annual… https://t.co/819MPpEZHS
— SpotNews.tv (@SpotNews.tv)1607028116.0

More from the network:

The club was founded in 1902 by Republican reformers who supported President Theodore Roosevelt. In 1930 the club constructed the elegant Federal-style townhouse to serve as its home and has had a long historic role in the city's political life. The club is where two storied Republican mayors announced their successful candidacies for City Hall, Mayor Rudy Giuliani in 1989 and the legendary Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia in the 1930s. Other Republican mayors and governors have also been among its members.

In 2018 anarchists were blamed for smashing some of the club's windows and spray painting graffiti including the letter "A" inside a circle, what is considered an anarchist symbol. Police said a note was left behind that warned "Our attack is merely a beginning. We are not passive, we are not civil, and we will not apologize."

In 2019 two members of the far-right "Proud Boys" were sentenced to four years in prison after a street fight near the club erupted between members of the group and Antifa following an appearance by "Proud Boys" founder Gavin McInnes at the club.

As for how the club members are reacting, Reilly told Fox News they felt "disgust and horror" but "will not be intimidated."

"People were just sad but also defiant," he told the network. "They just wanted to come together and honor our traditions."

He added to Fox News that "we will not be intimidated, and if our vocal and unending support for the NYPD continues to bring this type of hatred upon us, we will not back down from it,."

Black Lives Matter and NYPD clash after protest stops traffic on George Washington Bridge: 'We shut s*** down!'



A Black Lives Matter protest shut down the upper level of the George Washington Bridge on Saturday. BLM supporters and NYPD clashed as police attempted to unblock the George Washington Bridge after traffic was ground to a halt.

For about an hour on Saturday night, Black Lives Matter demonstrators marched across the George Washington Bridge to the 34th precinct station house in Manhattan's Washington Heights neighborhood. About 100 protesters blocked all cars and trucks from passing. The crowd boasted that they were on the bridge to "shut s*** down!"

Agitators used construction cones to block cars from driving on the George Washington Bridge.

#HappeningNow protest for #breathebill https://t.co/cLoSNQr9hp
— @SCOOTERCASTER (FNTV) (@@SCOOTERCASTER (FNTV))1599951887.0
Happening now on the GWB. Any comments @NYCMayor, @NYGovCuomo? https://t.co/U1hqm3VsRZ
— Joel Fischer (@Joel Fischer)1599964085.0
A little bit ago - BLM blocking the George Washington Bridge in NYC https://t.co/jws1jgYLmB
— Kitty Shackleford (@Kitty Shackleford)1599956777.0

Hawk Newsome, leader of the Greater New York chapter of Black Lives Matter, said they shut down the bridge "for our Sisters and Brothers who had their lives stolen by AmeriKKKa."

Newsome added that three BLM agitators were arrested during the demonstration, and urged his followers on social media to call the 34th precinct for their release. "FREE THE TEAM!!! Pigs at the 34th are not picking up the phone. CALL UNTIL THEY DO FREE," he wrote. Newsome boasted "our city" during the shutdown of the bridge.

"Look how much power we had. We sat on the bridge for 20 minutes. We shut the whole city down," one protester bragged, according to the New York Post.

Nearly 300,000 vehicles used the George Washington Bridge in 2016, a double-deck suspension bridge that connects New York City with New Jersey.

After crossing the bridge, tensions between the BLM protesters and NYPD cops flared outside the 34th precinct in Manhattan. Several people were arrested during the protest in New York City.

Clashes and Arrests happened outside 34th precinct today in Manhattan, following protesters shutting down George Wa… https://t.co/gZcnXcx8Lz
— @SCOOTERCASTER (FNTV) (@@SCOOTERCASTER (FNTV))1599960921.0
#NYC#NY NYPD not messing around. Different angle Footage: thoughtstream_ig https://t.co/BVxXoG8ZND
— No Name (@No Name)1599960046.0

Some protesters then set their sights on New York City diners. "Sorry to interrupt your dinner, it's a revolution," one demonstrator said to people dining on Saturday night in NYC. Last week, violent Black Lives Matter protesters vowed to prevent diners from eating at outdoor restaurants in Rochester and Pittsburgh.

>Sorry to interrupt your dinner, it's a revolution#NYCProtest earlier https://t.co/OzUqPv1Reh
— Kitty Shackleford (@Kitty Shackleford)1599972785.0

Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) gave an interview to BlazeTV's Steven Crowder last week, where he suggested that the riots erupting in American cities are likely a coordinated effort funded by corporate America.

"We're seeing these people ... some of the same people are in Portland, Kenosha, D.C., Louisville," Paul said. "How are they getting there? They're staying at the [Willard Hotel] — the Willard Hotel might be $500 to $1,000 a night — who's paying for them to stay in the Willard Hotel? Who's paying for them to have air flight? Who's paying them to do this?"

"And here's the sad truth of it," he explained. "It's probably not going to be a sinister name like George Soros, it's going to be corporate America."

"Corporate America is giving money to Black Lives Matter, and my guess is, if we follow the money, the people who paid for the plane tickets and the hotels and the people who continue to do this, is Black Lives Matter," Paul continued. "People should not be giving money to a group that is then funding thuggery."

Paul advocated that instead of funding Black Lives Matter, people should consider giving their money to the United Negro College Fund or the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.

The Democrats' Plan to Steal the Election! | Good Morning #MugClubwww.youtube.com