RVC Mayor: 'Appalled' By Proud Boys March

Rockville Centre NY

30 November, 2021

10:44 AM

Description

ROCKVILLE CENTRE, NY — The weekend rally by the Proud Boys in Rockville Centre only lasted approximately an hour, but it has led Mayor Francis Murray to post comments for two days. Murray responded with a stronger condemnation for the hate group after his initial statement may have been "misinterpreted" or "insufficient," he said. In that, Murray said in part, "Rockville Centre police were able to ensure that this small protest, whose organizers never sought a permit, was mostly orderly." Murray's video, posted on Monday, lasts two minutes and 41 seconds. In an attempt "to be perfectly clear," he said, "RVC residents have stood together in harmony for decades and continue to grow in our respect and understanding of each other." The small throng marched along Sunrise Highway on Saturday, reportedly distributing fliers to local businesses. "This hateful group invaded our downtown, trying to change our beliefs and cause a divide in our community," Murray said. The mayor, who was looking down at a script throughout, said that won't happen as the village is diverse and "denounce all hatred toward our fellow man," he said. Other local politicians came down hard on the protest, including State Senator Todd Kaminsky and Assemblywoman Judy Griffin. "Hate is not welcome here," Murray said in the video. "And it will be met with the full strength of our legal authority."