The harassers were physically hostile, at multiple points documented shoving, grabbing at, and threatening defenders, NYPD, and anyone who got in their way. They chased people down the street, screaming “Shame!” and “Groomers!” at them. They targeted this toward families and adult library patrons, all of whom had a police escort out of the building but who were actually protected by defenders rushing to block the harassers.

This was a notable escalation of behavior by the harassers. 2/

Following their unsuccessful invasion and unsuccessful disruption, people inside the library reported that the hate speech being hurled by the harassers was “unintelligible.” They were able to hear defenders singing Disney songs and chanting drag-supportive chants.

The Councilman, Erik Bottcher, later published video of his experience, capturing the frenzy and fury-drenched hate emanating from the group proportedly there to “protect kids.” He referred to them as “the face of hate.”

Prior to Bottcher’s footage, the incident had already exploded across social media. With Bottcher’s presence, his denouncement of their behavior, and documentation of participants hurling incoherent hate at him, the story exploded. CBS, NBC, ABC, New York Times, and more all suddenly wanted to cover the incident. He again spoke out, floored by the intensity of their hate.

(You’ll never guess who the only credentialed reporter present was)
https://twitter.com/taliaotg/status/1604139481707253762

After his footage and the ensuing media coverage, the harassers finally realized the person they flung their hate at was the Councilman. They targeted his office, entering into the building, writing insults on interior walls, angrily confronting him for calling them angry, and yelling through his office door accusing him of being a groomer and a pedophile.

N.B.: Bottcher is gay. Gays Against Groomers have targeted him; this is separate.

After targeting Bottcher’s office, they then targeted his home, once again attempting to gain entry into the building — an apartment building that requires being buzzed in for entry. They piled into the lobby, screeching, and prevented a neighbor from entering.

While refusing to leave the lobby and accosting the neighbor, the neighbor grabbed at the phone of David Gallo, who was streaming. Gallo proceeded to assault him. Twice. https://twitter.com/taliaotg/status/1605208700297400321

Bottcher had erroneously referred to the group as Gays Against Groomers because, while targeting him at his office, one of them repeatedly referenced GAG and said “that’s who I am.” It’s clear on review the man was saying he’s a gay man who is against groomers, not part of the official group.

While I’ve covered this group by naming individuals instead of their group, I recognized this situation as exceeding vagueries and so chose to name the group.

While folks can speculate to their hearts desire as to who and what specifically is motivating this group, I’ve been monitoring them before they began targeting DSH. I saw when one of them suggested they look into DSH. That suggestion clearly followed Proud Boys invading a DSH in California July 21st, news of which didn’t circulate into their spaces until after it was covered and an angle had been spun up.

https://twitter.com/taliaotg/status/1605051479781507072?s=46&t=ICXoBqL-VW5pIjwReSkcEg

This group came into fruition earlier this year to continue banging the antivax drum after those they participated in arrest stunts with recognized the end of the road on generating positive coverage.

They continued targeting vaccine-related spaces for several months, and still occasionally do so when not harassing children. Throughout, they collaborated with Oren Levy to film these “spontaneous” stunts. He gets extremely angry if you point out these are his friends (and one is his brother!).