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Three people who were protesting a speech by right-wing provocateur Gavin McInnes in the Upper East Side were beaten Friday after fighting on nearby sidewalks, police said.
The violence began after about 80 protesters gathered in front of the Metropolitan Republican Club, located on Third Avenue and East 83th Street, where McInnes was speaking, police said.
McInnes, co-founder of Vice Media, heads a right-wing group called Proud Boys, described as hate by the Southern Poverty Law Center. The club was vandalized before the appearance of McInnes.
The cops said the public was gone around 8:15 pm, after which three protesters followed a man who ran away as he was leaving the building.
The man dropped his backpack and, when he tried to pick it up, a protester hit him and took his property, police said.
Finbarr Slonim, 20, and Caleb Perkins, 35, both from the Upper East Side, and Kai Russo, 20, from Bushwick, were released without bail, charged with robbery and misdemeanor.
"We vigorously contest the allegations," said their lawyer, Moira Meltzer Cohen.
According to the police, there were no other arrests on Saturday night.
Some social media users claim that the Proud Boys were the attackers.
"We followed Proud Boys after the event hosted by Republican Club Gavin McInnes," wrote Sandi Bachom, who posted a video on YouTube of a fight on the sidewalk. "A police escort took them to Park Ave and a small group turned down 82nd Street.
Someone tried to take one of their MAGA hats and that is what happened, Bachom wrote in reference to the assault.
photojournalist Shay Horse tweeted on a fight involving "30 (proud boys) V 3 (randoms)."
"It ended with 30 proud boys pounding a man on the ground shouting," ARE YOU BRAVE NOW F-T ?! "?
Vandals threw a brick through the window of the same Republican club Friday morning, scribbling two anarchic symbols on the doorway and sticking the locks, police said.
Vandalism also seems to be related to the appearance of McInnes.
A note found at the club after the vandalism attack reads in part, "The Metropolitan Republican Club has chosen to invite a hipster-fascist clown to dance for them, merely reveling in their betrayal against the 39; humanity. "
But the note also tore the holiday in general.
"Tonight, we put the Republican Party in default, in defiance of the policy of massive misery that they defended," reads the newspaper. "The US government has established concentration camps all over the country for Latin Americans, unscrupulously murdering blacks and continuing its war machine that has slaughtered Muslims with impunity for decades."
Police Commissioner O'Neil said on Saturday that videotapes of fights were under review to determine whether to make further arrests.
He urged anyone with information or videos to dial 1-800-577-TIPS.
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