Proud Boys March Through Long Island Streets

Bay Shore NY

19 October, 2021

9:26 PM

Description

BAY SHORE, NY — Members of the Proud Boys — a far-right, neo-facist group — took to the streets of Patchogue and Bay Shore Saturday night, some with their face covered and carrying flags, leaving some who witnessed the group shaken. NaTasha McNeil of South Carolina told Patch she had come to Bay Shore last weekend to speak at a diversity event with her non-profit group, Moms Against Racism. She told Patch that as a Black woman, she felt safe as she'd walked downtown on Friday night. But the next day, she said, her feelings were juxtaposed. When she and a Bay Shore resident went to dine on Main Street Saturday evening, they saw the members of the Proud Boys gathered, reportedly without a permit. As they waited to be seated outside the restaurant, they observed men in face coverings carrying Proud Boy flags walk by. Some wore MAGA hats. A yellow truck blasted music from its speakers, they said. "We were so shaken up," said the Bay Shore resident, who is also a member of MAR. "It took a while to calm down because it was just so surreal to experience." The Proud Boys were founded in 2016 by Vice Media co-founder Gavin McInees. According to the Southern Poverty Law Center, which has classified the Proud Boys as a hate group, they are self-described "Western chauvinists" and are best known for white nationalist, anti-Muslim, and misogynistic rhetoric. Many members have been linked to the Jan. 6 Capitol riots, and the group was named a terrorist entity by Canada this May. The Bay Shore resident, who wishes to remain anonymous, said she had never seen this specific group take action before. "I felt like they knew to come to our community because Bay Shore is a diverse community," she said. "A lot of people from this community were shocked. " McNeil said the men blew kisses to her and the women around them. She said that the members of the group were mostly white, but was shocked to see that one of them was Black. "It was disturbing to see someone that looked like me a part of the crowd because I know what the group stands for," said McNeil. "I'm like, what in the world is going on? Do you even know what you're standing for?" At one point in the video, a few Proud Boys went up to McNeil and gave an "okay", or "white power" symbol. McNeil told Patch she instinctively took out her phone and documented the event on Facebook. "I am by nature used to events like this," she said. "It's sad; it's a traumatic response for a lot of individuals, especially the Black community." McNeil told Patch that the Proud Boys walked past her for seven minutes. According to other videos taken, the group continued to walk toward downtown Patchogue. Suffolk County police told Patch that they "monitored demonstrations in Patchogue and Bay Shore" and there were no issues reported. However, the Bay Shore resident and McNeil said they did not see any officers. "I don't think it did anything but show ignorance," McNeil said about the march. "It was upsetting that they would disturb families and a community." Town of Islip officials told Patch that they are currently looking into any permits filed for marches on Saturday. On Sunday, McNeil, the Bay Shore resident, and other members of MAR attended a diversity and inclusion event, to promote anti-racism. They told Patch that Saturday's events reminded them of the importance of their work. "These hate groups need to know that they're not welcome here," said the Bay Shore resident. "We're not going to stop standing up for what's right." The Proud Boys could not be reached for comment.