The Post had the first report:
The beatdown happened when the brothers, both 27-year-old Columbia graduate students, noticed the large group of “skinheads” hanging inside one of their usual haunts called Clockwork on Essex Street and decided to head for the exits around 12:30 a.m.
On the way out the door, they ran into a group of smokers outside who noticed the sticker on one of their phones reading “New York City Anti-Fascists.”
“One of the guys … sees [my brother’s] phone, grabs it and starts screaming, ‘I know what the f— that means, I know what the f— that sticker is, you need to get the f— out of here,’” said one of the victims, who asked to remain anonymous.
“He throws the phone on the ground and they just start jumping us right in front of the bar.”
Six to seven men, all wearing matching vests with patches that read "211 Crew," reportedly took place in the fight.
Police arrested one of the group members, identified as John Young, 29, of Washington, D.C., according to DNAinfo. The charges against Young include two counts of assault as well as menacing and criminal possession of a weapon.
Gothamist has more details on the attack here.
Yesterday afternoon, the bar, which opened in 2013 at 21 Essex St. between Hester and Canal, released the following statement...
Clockwork Bar would like to express its concern for the victims of the attacks on Feb. 11 on Essex and Hester streets. Our hearts go out to them. And we pray for a speedy recovery.
We would also like to state clearly that Clockwork Bar does NOT endorse, sympathize, nor invite the views and beliefs of Neo-Nazi, supremacist hate groups. These groups and their views are not welcome at our establishment. They have never been, nor will ever be invited or allowed in our bar. We apologize for what happened and are taking steps to prevent future instances as well as working with the NYPD to increase awareness and security for our patrons.
Furthermore, it is fundamental to Clockwork Bar, its ownership and staff that we are not a Neo-Nazi, white supremacist or hate group association establishment. Clockwork is about music, friendship and good times. Anything else is hereby prohibited.
The two brothers reportedly suffered cuts and bruises to their faces and bodies and were taken to New York-Presbyterian Lower Manhattan Hospital. One brother required five staples to close a wound on his head.
ABC 7 had an interview last evening with one of the brothers:
"I'm completely shocked, and I'm appalled by it," the victim said. "I feel like these organizations are sort of being emboldened to come out of the woodwork now, just because of the general sentiment that's going on."
The Clockwork Bar also updated their profile photo last evening...
Updated — Gothamist has more today, reporting: "It turns out that Matt Restuccia, lead singer of the right-wing oi band Lonewolf and a 211 member, was DJing an after-party at Clockwork on the night of the attack. A flyer for the DJ set advertises it as an after-party for a concert by the legendary English punk band Cock Sparrer."
22 comments:
Lets call these guys what they are: racists and domestic terrorists. Members of right-wing skinhead groups have committed many acts of domestic terrorism, including gay bashing and assassinating a prison warden in Colorado a few years ago, but typically they stick to street beatdowns like this one. Now they are emboldened since Trump was elected with their support. In return, Trump has proposed that the Justice Dept.stop investigating these white nationalist hate groups, and instead wants Justice to focus exclusively on Islamic terrorists. That means we are on our own when it comes to dealing with these white nationalist groups. Ten days ago there was a near riot at NYU when right wing "comedian" Gavin McInnes tried to speak there, and the New York anti-fascist group was the one who shut it down. These skinheads were probably reacting to that incident, and it is why bars need to stop caterng to fascist punk bands and skinheaads because this is what happpens.
A group of individuals with racist tendencies outnumbering two people and beating them up? What street was this on?
WTF?
So what's the deal with this place? I would like to hear from people who have been to this bar before I jump to conclusions, but I do have to say I am wondering why these neo-Nazi guys would be drawn to this place.
This special brand of violence cannot be tolerated in our city however vigilante anti-nazi gangs are not the answer. If you witness an attack and are fearful of intervening at the very least use your phone to record it. We need to get evidence of who these people are and pressure the police and pols to take these attacks seriously. If #45's will not do what is need to protect US citizens and visitors to our country from this and other hate groups on a national level then we must respond on a local level. Encourage you city and start representatives to expand the definition of a hate crime, extend punishment and make these haters crawl back to the caves they came from.
If you name your bar Clockwork, don't act surprised when a bunch of fascist skinkeads and droogs drop by "to get ready for a bit of the old ultraviolence." Maybe that stupid Will Ferrell themed bar wasn't so bad after all.
Giovanni by your logic CBGB encouraged KKK members to drop by and commit violence since CBGB was short for "Country Bluegrass Blues and other music for urban Gourmandizers."
Blaming the bar is lame bro.
12:07
The (updated) Gothamist article explains why these guys were there. An employee/DJ of the bar is prominent in that community.
Why would this bar invite a prominent member of 211 to spin there? Can the owner answer that question? And did the bouncers do anything to stop the attack?
@1:26 pm. The difference between CBGB and Clockwork is that one is named after a violent movie about fascist thugs and the other one is not. You are the one confusing Nazis with Country and Bliegrass, not Giovanni.
Matt Restuccia lists Clockwork as his employer on an online profile -- he says he was a bartender there. Now the bar is trying to distance itself since they know a shitstorm is coming their way. This guys affiliations were no secret. They have a lot of explaining to do.
At one time there were two dozen synagogues within two blocks of this address. I know New York tends to forget its history but a punk rock dive bar off Hester Street becoming a neo-Nazi social club is beyond belief
@2:23PM
I was there that night for a friend's birthday. There was no bouncer. Pretty much the bartender and customers were surprised to find out what was going on outside. We only knew once the victim & cops entered.
The owner was warned by several people about this DJ but he obviously didn't listen.
I've dj'd and hung out at clockwork over the years. The usual crowd there is not neo-nazi.
Riiight... they were just naming it after the good parts of clockwork orange, not the nazi parts.
My favorite Joey Ramone quote remins: "I like to hang around mental institutions because the girls are loose and kind of fun, y'know?"
It's a shame. It's a cool bar - in the CBGB, Mars Bar kinda way. Just a total punk rock dive bar. I guess bonehead types make their way to bars like that sooner or later. As for the two guys, that sucks for them. But when you're repping Antifa flair that's basically like flying gang colors. If you live by the sword...
11:19
Being anti-racist and anti-fascist is now "asking for it."
What is wrong with this neighborhood?
The elephant in the room is that skinheads and neonazis are a prominent part of the punk rock world. You can listen to the dead kennedys on repeat all you want, it's not going to excise the bigots in your community.
No, being anti-Fascist or anti-racist or anti-Nazi is not the same as being Fascist or being a racist skinned neo-Nazi. That's a trick that the alt-Right and Trumpanzees are trying to pull on the public, calling minority groups racists, and blaming the victims of racist attacks. Now we are seeing this nonsense in comments on ths blog when people actually defend the perpetrators and blaming the victims of these attacks. Since when does having a sticker on a phone turn you into a gang member who should be attacked?
Same thing happened with the Mike Pence supporter who attacked someone with pepper spray in the diner on 14th Street--some people were blaming the victims instead of the perpetrator. If your political beliefs require you to physically attack people who don't agree with you, maybe its time to look in the mirror and change parties.
Hey 2:38pm Clockwork may or may not be named after A Clockwork Orange which yes, was a book, and since you wanna mention that book Alex and his "Droogs" were not white supremacists, just sociopaths who victimized anyone in their way (women, the old, the homeless etc.) If the bar was named in allusion to ACO so what? Freedom of speech/expression. Anyone remember the Kit Kat Klub? WTF was up with them spelling those words like that? KKK right? Like CBGB that place wasn't stomping grounds for KKK members and racist rednecks despite "country bluegrass" in the name either, so branding Clockwork a place facilitating neo-Naziism (when Alex and his Droogs weren't neo-Nazis) is ridiculous, was my point.
Country and bluegrass are long known for being the music of choice of white supremacists, unfortunately, so if you're gonna give shit to Clockwork for naming themselves after a novel in which lots of violence occured then give CBGB shit for being named after music KKK members used to jam to in between and I'm sure during lynchings, cross-burnings, and beatings, was my other point.
As for this 211 clown, Cock Sparrer would never endorse him or his group, so whoever dropped their name should get word from them which I'm sure would be "We have nothing to do with these tossers/buggers/rotters/bullocks, etc." Something British LOL. As for this clown claiming he works for Clockwork, maybe, maybe not, ask Clockwork.
Hey 3:18pm get a fucking clue. Skinheads and neo-Nazis are NOT a "prominent" part of punk rock, they're what people who have no clue about the actual community like you harp on and try to label the scene as representative as when they are not, not even close. I'm gonna clue you in on something: NYC skinheads like Raybeez, Roger Miret etc. were the reason neo-Nazis never flourished or gained a foothold in/around NYC. Whenever these "boneheads" popped up, Ray and co. drove them out. Oh wait, you weren't born then so it doesn't matter/didn't exist right, hipster and/or millenial snowflake sore that he/she missed the boat?
Grew up with people from both sides. They are not nazis. Antifa is known for labelling any detractor or opponent as nazi. Its like saying anyone whobhas beef with a blood must be a crip. Antifa isbcrying nazi to explain why sometimes they act like a gang and sometimes call the cops after a streetfight.
The dj is puerto rican not a nazi
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