New York Daily News

Proud Boy gloated about Antifa bash

- BY SHAYNA JACOBS

A member of the far-right Proud Boys crudely bragged about his fist-fighting prowess after a one-sided beatdown of leftist Antifa extremists last year, an NYPD detective testified Tuesday.

In the Manhattan Supreme Court trial of two Proud Boys charged with attempted gang assault in the

Oct. 12, 2018, attack, NYPD Detective Thomas Mays testified Matthew Hare, of Harrisburg, Pa., was unequivoca­l about his role in the melee, ranting on a cell phone video,

“I ripped that motherf——r’s mask off and I f——-g hit him right in the head!”

In another part of the footage taken by a Proud Boys member and played during Mays’ testimony, Hare (top photo) repeats the invective to fired-up pals, saying, “I f——-g hit him! That’s what I did.”

“I kicked one right in the f——-g head!” he rails.

Lawyers for both Hare and defendant John Kinsman (bottom photo) have argued they were under threat from the other side.

The bashing followed a speech at the Metropolit­an Republican Club by Gavin McInnes, the former Proud Boys leader who reportedly split from the group over ideologica­l difference­s.

About a block away from the event, on E. 82nd St. near Lexington Ave., a masked member of the extremist Antifa group hurled a water bottle near the Proud Boys gathered there, triggering a brawl that ended in the arrest of 10 Proud Boys.

Seven have pleaded guilty to charges in connection with the fight. Proud Boy David Kuriakose will be tried separately.

Antifa members who were attacked in the clash didn’t cooperate with police, and will not testify.

The two fringe groups have sparred in other cities, including Washington, D.C., and Portland, Ore.

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