Far Right Proud Boys March Through LI’s Rockville Center Creating Havoc

By Hadassa Kalatizadeh

Over the weekend, members of the Proud Boys Group marched through the streets of Rockville Center in Long Island, barging into stores, handing out flyers and disrupting shoppers. The exclusively male, neo-fascist group has been classified as a hate group by the Anti-Defamation League and the Southern Poverty Law Center.

As reported by the NY Post, some 20 members from the group marched around on Saturday, wearing black, their faces covered with bandanas, waving “Don’t Tread on Me” flags, and blasting rap music from a truck. Video footage and photos show the far-right protesters walking down Sunrise Highway to the Nassau County village’s business district, while shouting slogans.

The organization, which promotes and engages in political violence, was officially launched in September 2016, on the website of Taki’s Magazine, a far-right publication. Founded by Gavin McInnes, the group seeks to push back against BLM, feminist, LGBT and other progressive movements. The group has been banned from numerous social networks, including Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube.

The protest prompted a negative response from numerous local elected officials. US Rep. Kathleen Rice, a Democrat who represents the South Shore of Long Island took to Twitter to express her ire. “I’m aware of the march through Rockville Centre that white nationalists organized today. I am disgusted that this took place in our district,” she wrote on Twitter. “I will continue to fight against racism, hatred, and white nationalism while serving as your representative.”

Also, on Saturday, Democratic State Sen. Todd Kaminsky of Long Island tweeted in response to the event. “The Neo-fascist Proud Boys marched through Rockville Centre today, close to my office,” the Senator wrote, posting a video of the march. “I will not be silent. Their hatred has no place here-this is not the Nassau I know”, he added. “Who else will speak up?”

State Assemblywoman Judy Griffin (D-Rockville Centre) also spoke out. “It is extremely concerning that the far-right, neo-fascist Proud Boys held a march through Rockville Centre this afternoon,” she tweeted. “Organized groups that espouse violence and hate should not be welcome in our communities.”

Last month, the group had similarly marched on the streets of Long Island’s Patchogue and Bay Shore communities, as reported by Patch. A few of the members of the extremist group have been criminal indicted for participating in the Jan. 6 Capitol siege. Last week, the House select committee, which is still investigating the riot, issued five subpoenas directed towards right-wing groups including the Proud Boys.