Far-right Proud Boys join Covid protest about bar closure on Staten Island

Supporters of the far-right group, Proud Boys, joined hundreds of people protesting the closure of a bar in Staten Island that was shut for ignoring coronavirus measures.

The large crowd of protesters gathered outside of Mac's Public House in Staten Island, New York, on Wednesday night to show support for the bar that was shut on Tuesday after it ignored health measures and operated without a license.

The bar’s owner, Daniel Presti, was arrested on Tuesday and was charged with obstructing governmental administration and multiple other violations of state and local laws, the authorities said.

Mr Presti and his co-owner Keith McAlarney had declared the bar an “autonomous zone” and had continued to serve customers inside, despite local coronavirus measures ordering businesses to only serve food and drink outside or via takeout.