Ugly scenes played out over the weekend before a drag queen reading session for neurodiverse children in Manhattan, a week after a man was arrested for assaulting an NYPD police officer before a similar event.
Protesters threw profanity and slurs outside the event at the Andrew Heiskell Library in the Chelsea neighborhood on Saturday, according to video shared by a city councilor there in support of the event.
“Today, before the Drag Queen Story Hour, I witnessed pure hate and bigotry in a Chelsea public library. Inside, I witnessed a loving and peaceful reading of children’s books for children,” tweeted New York City Councilman Erik Bottcher.
In recent months, similar events across the country have prompted increasingly violent protests from groups claiming they intend to sexually “groom” young children.
The New York Public Library billed Saturday’s event as “storytime featuring local drag performers adapted to be more accessible to children with autism and other disabilities.”
Protesters hurled profanity and anti-gay slurs ahead of a drag queen story hour at the Andrew Heiskell Library in the Chelsea neighborhood on Saturday
The branch library hosting the event is dedicated to providing audiobooks and Braille reading material to people who are blind or otherwise physically unable to read standard script.
There were no reports of injuries or property damage at the protest, and no arrests were made by NYPD officers who were at the scene for security reasons.
The NYPL told in a statement: “A group of protesters attempted to disrupt a drag story hour for neurodiverse children. Storytelling continued as planned, including readings, painting activities and a ‘dance party’ at the end.’
“Our guests enjoy the Drag Story Hour, and the library will continue to offer programs that support a variety of voices,” the statement added.
“This is especially important at this moment as we see an increase in hatred and violence against LGBTQ+ communities.”
The video shared by Bottcher shows a crowd of protesters on the street and sidewalk in front of the library with signs reading “There are only two genders” and “Stop grooming children for sex.”
“I want to show you the face of hate, right here in Chelsea,” Bottcher said in the video.
New York City Councilman Erik Bottcher (seated on the floor) slammed ugly protests ahead of a drag queen story hour in Manhattan on Saturday
Protesters opposed to Drag Queen Story Hour are seen outside the event on Saturday
Bottcher (left) filmed the protesters (right) outside the library and said, “Today I witnessed pure hatred and bigotry ahead of Drag Queen Story Hour.”
The protesters hurled obscenities at Bottcher as well as at Graf protesters who stood outside the library with their arms crossed.
“What are you, a pedophile… get out of here,” one protester is heard sneering at the council member.
The tense confrontation comes just a week after a man was arrested and charged in an altercation with a police officer during similar protests at the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Library in midtown Manhattan.
Chase Catapano, 28, was charged with disorderly conduct, harassment, attempted assault and obstruction of government administration.
Catapano was seen protesting with police officers and the group protesting the drag queen event, although it appears he wasn’t in the library specifically for the event and got sucked into the heated drama.
He appears to be homeless and his father told the Daily News he often uses the library’s computers and was likely upset about the disorder due to a mental illness.
Unbeknownst to Catapano, among the crowd of protesters were several officers sent to monitor the demonstration who were stationed inconspicuously among the crowd.
Capatana was arrested and charged with disorderly conduct, harassment, attempted assault and obstructing government administration, police said
Catapano was seen protesting with police officers and the group protesting the drag queen event, although he did not appear to be at the library specifically for the event
As the loud-mouthed suspect’s taunts to the protesters became more explicit and even physical, Catapano quickly came under police control.
Footage of the incident released by NJEG Media on Saturday shows the incident after Manhattan resident Catapano snatched a sign from the hands of a protester and violently hurled it at other members of the group known as the Guardians of Divinity.
The protester, who was holding a sign that read “Leave our children alone,” does not respond and even smiles at the instigator.
As Catapano walks away, he repeats the phrase “You’re a bloody disgrace!” – He is confronted by a much taller man in a black winter jacket, who is later confirmed to be a New York City Police Department detective.
The officer appears to say a word of warning to Catapano, who then cuts off his arms and leads him away.
During the interaction, a defiant Catapano is heard telling the detective, “I don’t wonder who you are,” before the officer, who appears to be trying to stop the incident from progressing, puts his hands on the still mouthing puts perpetrators, grabbed him by the sweatshirt.
Footage shows Catapano continuing to complain and curse as he is escorted out of the hallway as parents desperately herd their children away from the source of the unrest.