Gov. Andrew Cuomo questioned Sunday why state Republicans would have invited the founder of a far-right group to speak in Manhattan, and he blamed them and President Donald Trump for violent clashes that took place after the speech.
In a conference call with reporters, the Democratic governor called the invitation to Proud Boys founder Gavin McInnes to speak at the Metropolitan Republican Club a "political tactic because what they're trying to do is fire up their base" ahead of the midterm elections.
"Why would the Republican Party at their main club invite the Proud Boys?" Cuomo asked, pointing out that they have been designated as a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center.
The Proud Boys is made up of males who describe themselves as "western chauvinists."
The state Republican Party called Cuomo's comments "outrageous."
The Republican Club had been vandalized ahead of the speech, with officials saying the damage included smashed windows, a spray-painted door and a keypad lock covered in glue. A note left at the scene claimed that the damage was "just the beginning."
In an emailed statement, spokeswoman Jessica Proud said, "It's unconscionable that when Republicans were attacked and threatened, Governor Cuomo said absolutely nothing. Violence of any kind has no place in society, yet the governor — who is charged with ensuring everyone's personal safety and property is protected — only thinks those rights should be afforded to Democrats. It's not surprising coming from the man who said conservatives have no place in the state, but it's nonetheless outrageous."
Cuomo said he had directed the state police to assist the New York Police Department in a probe of the violence that took place Friday night between the Proud Boys and those protesting the speech. Three people have been arrested, but elected officials were outraged over videos posted online of the violence, saying they showed Proud Boys members were involved and should face consequences.
Cuomo said he had also requested the FBI to assist.
The NYPD on Sunday said the situation was still being investigated, and no additional arrests had been made.
April 25 – May 1, 2024
From clashes in Istanbul, to protests in Berlin, people around the world demonstrated on May Day.
Kenya, along with other parts of East Africa, has been overwhelmed by flooding.
The Olympic flame started its journey to France from Greece, sailing through the Corinth canal.
This gallery highlights some of the most compelling images made or published in the past week by The Associated Press from Europe and Africa. The selection was curated by AP photographer Armando Franca in Lisbon.
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Inter Milan's Marcus Thuram celebrates lying wrapped in a plastic sheet at the end of a Serie A soccer match between Inter Milan and Torino at the San Siro stadium in Milan, Italy, Sunday, April 28, 2024. Inter Milan had already clinched the Italian Serie A league title the week before. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
Aryna Sabalenka, of Belarus, serves a ball to Mirra Andreeva, of Russia, during the Mutua Madrid Open tennis tournament in Madrid, Wednesday, May 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
Smoke from pyrotechnics obscured the stadium as Monaco scored their side's first goal in the first few minutes during a French League One soccer match between Lyon and Monaco at the Groupama stadium in Decines, outside Lyon, France, Sunday, April 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Laurent Cipriani)
Icelandic horses are driven to their paddock for the first time in the season in Wehrheim near Frankfurt, Germany, Sunday, April 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Michael Probst)
A young girl stands next to an eternal flame burning of the Unknown Soldier monument in Kyiv, Ukraine, Tuesday, April 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)
Police officers detain people who take part in a pro-Palestinians protest rally in Berlin, Saturday, April 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi)
Union members clash with Turkish anti riot police officers as they march during Labor Day celebrations in Istanbul, Turkey, Wednesday, May 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Khalil Hamra)
A till operator packs old Zimbabwean dollar notes into a shopping basket as customers use them to buy groceries in a supermarket in Harare, Thursday, April 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi)
Customers have breakfast in a restaurant while Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez appears on a television broadcast in Madrid, Spain, Monday, April 29, 2024. Sánchez says he will continue in office "even with more strength" after days of reflection. Sánchez shocked the country last week when he said he was taking five days off to think about his future after a court opened preliminary proceedings against his wife on corruption allegations. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)
People celebrate King's Day on the canals of Amsterdam, Netherlands, Saturday, April 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong)77
Pope Francis is greeted by Gondoliers upon his arrival in Venice, Italy, Sunday, April 28, 2024. The Pontiff arrived for his first-ever visit to the lagoon town including the Vatican pavilion at the 60th Biennal of Arts. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Belem, the three-masted sailing ship carrying the Olympic flame to France, is being towed through the Corinth canal in Corinth, Greece, Sunday, April 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Michael Varaklas)
People gather on a bridge where a woman's body was retrieved, after floodwater washed away houses, in Kamuchiri Village Mai Mahiu, Nakuru County, Kenya, Tuesday, April 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Brian Inganga)
Riot police use a water cannon during an opposition protest against "the Russian law" near the Parliament building in Tbilisi, Georgia, on Tuesday, April 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Zurab Tsertsvadze)
People protest for human rights during a May Day demonstration in Berlin, Germany, Wednesday, May 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi)
