A New York City councilman boasting about chasing “NRA members underground” is under fire for comments that many likened to those once made by brown-shirt fascists.
Justin Brannan, a New York City Councilmember from Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, tweeted out a celebratory comment about how “we’ve successfully chased the @NRA underground in #Brooklyn. Now they’ve gotta sneak around behind our backs and book catering halls under fake names just to have a meeting.”
Looks like we’ve successfully chased the @NRA underground in #Brooklyn. Now they’ve gotta sneak around behind our backs and book catering halls under fake names just to have a meeting. Sounds about right. https://t.co/Rt6sOaok8N
— Justin Brannan (@JustinBrannan) April 26, 2018
Gloating about depriving fellow citizens of their right to gather “sounds about right,” to the 39-year-old Democrat.
Alternative headline: “NYC Councilman leads effort to deny citizens rights to free assembly and speech, brags about it on Twitter.” https://t.co/57C161bdYI
— Vote of Mo Confidence (@molratty) April 27, 2018
God forbid Americans, with differing political opinions, should be able to peacefully assemble. https://t.co/pgswnCBhnv
— Joe Walsh (@WalshFreedom) April 27, 2018
Brannan, a former professional musician, was responding to a story from the Brooklyn Reporter detailing how the Brooklyn Friends of the NRA had to reschedule their event two times over the last few months over objections by local residents and elected officials.
This is where I spent most of my formative middle school years. pic.twitter.com/Q7i5PFXj7D
— Justin Brannan (@JustinBrannan) April 27, 2018
Democratic candidates for State Senate were quoted in the article slamming the event, originally billed to include a raffle and auction, as “absolutely outrageous” and “unconscionable.”
Have you heard of the First Amendment, Councilman? https://t.co/ItmtaB3YuO
— Jack Posobiec (@JackPosobiec) April 27, 2018
The event was moved to Thursday at a location in Brooklyn in the district represented by Brannan, who issued a joint statement with Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams, according to the Brooklyn Reporter.
“We are disappointed to learn in the 11th hour of an NRA fundraiser in Dyker Heights, especially after our neighbors in Coney Island and South Slope expressed their deep displeasure with having this benefit take place in their communities,” the pair said. “The lack of notice as to its rescheduling indicates a desire to fly under the radar and avoid the scrutiny of a rightly concerned public. The NRA does not value the safety and security of our neighborhoods, putting deadly assault weapons above innocent lives; it is no friend of Brooklyn. Our protest of the NRA and their campaign of chaos continues.”
The councilman defended his stance against harsh backlash on Twitter, retweeting negative comments as if to mock the haters.
A mass shooting occurs approx every 64 days in the US. This isn’t about intolerance. If you don’t see why folks aren’t exactly over the moon about the NRA — a group that adamantly supports Concealed Carry Reciprocity — raising money in their backyard, I dunno what to tell you.
— Justin Brannan (@JustinBrannan) April 26, 2018
I understand why they aren’t over the moon about it. I’m not over the moon about Planned Parenthood, but I don’t harass businesses hosting their events. Some conservatives in red states do that, and it’s also wrong.
— David Marcus (@BlueBoxDave) April 26, 2018
I’m not harassing anyone. They are allowed to meet just as people are allowed to protest.
— Justin Brannan (@JustinBrannan) April 26, 2018
“we’ve successfully chased…” Sounds like harassing to me.
— Steph (@steph93065) April 27, 2018
Brannan’s follow up tweet to brag about the fight against a group of people he disagrees with politically earned him scorching rebuke on Twitter.
Woooooow. How authoritarian of you. Very “1984”. Bravo. pic.twitter.com/ASLuKY5HUG
— Colonel Assault Mom (@colonel_potter) April 26, 2018
Who you going to chase underground next-bible study groups? Can’t have Christians infiltrating NYC, according to The New Yorker. You are a disgrace and should resign. Imagine a politician gloating about stopping a law-abiding LBGTQ group who just wanted to meet. Nasty man. Resign
— Writer59 (@kidlitwriter59) April 27, 2018
You’re proud of quashing the 1st & 2nd Amendment right of fellow US citizens, driving them underground? Do you want us afraid? What’s next, rounding us up into camps, gulags, eventual retraining or death?
— Mean Wee Old Bot Deb (@mddebm) April 27, 2018
You know I love you big guy but gotta disagree with you strongly here
— Thank you Joe Gabriel Simonson, very cool! (@SaysSimonson) April 27, 2018
Proud fascism. This is what it looks like. Seems like an admission that you’ve conspired to deprive them of their civil rights. https://t.co/QGrHvCZxVd
— Instapundit.com (@instapundit) April 27, 2018
Quite Orwellian from a not-so-surprising source – courtesy of proletariat NYC councilman @JustinBrannan pic.twitter.com/VP7DrHHzR0
— John Hancock (@CaptAmerica1787) April 27, 2018
“New Yorkers! Protect yourselves! Don’t rent to the NRA!” arguably sounded better in the original German.
— Richard DeCamp (@richdecamp) April 27, 2018
Peaceful assembly used to be considered a good thing.
“Successfully chased” has a rather negative connotation.
— Cheesetrader (@cheesetrader1) April 27, 2018
And @JustinBrannan is supposedly a representative of the people he’s ostracizing. Sounds like he’s more concerned with his own power. #TammanyHall
— Robert Beezer (@PatriotBeezer) April 27, 2018
Chased? Let’s be honest bro, the only thing you’re chasing these days are food trucks. While you’re busy worrying about guns, you’ll end up one of the 1,736 Americans who die every single day from heart disease. Your priorities are way out of line.
— J.R. Salzman (@jrsalzman) April 27, 2018
Oh, isn’t that call discrimination? https://t.co/DC0SoJ6jyl
— Sheppy (@Sheppy91453424) April 27, 2018
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Originally from New York, Powers graduated from New York University and eventually made her way to sunny South Florida where she has been writing for the BizPacReview team since 2015.
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