Backlash Grows After NYPD Lets Proud Boys Dodge Subway Fare

QUEENS — The Proud Boys are also proud subway fare dodgers — at least according to viral video that shows NYPD officers seemingly turn a blind eye to the far-right extremists.

The video prompted a backlash that has only grown since the Dec. 29 incident, in which Proud Boys members — who had just disrupted an LGBTQ event — marched into the Jackson Heights subway station under police escort and didn't pay the $2.75 fare.

By Tuesday, the video originally posted by user @LipBrenna had made "NYPD" a trending topic on Twitter.

"NYPD help Proud Boys commit fare evasion & then tell journalists to go back and pay for the fare," @LipBrenna posted.

"Everyone should see this video."

Many Twitter users pointed out that some NYPD officers have aggressively handled other cases of fare evasion — and provided other videos as evidence of that arguable hypocrisy.

In the three months through September, the NYPD made 477 arrests for fare evasion, according to a report from the city.

NYPD officials told Patch that the cops were trying to defuse a tense situation that began at Jackson Heights Public Library.

The library hosted a Drag Story Hour that drew a protest from the Proud Boys. Those events, in which drag queens read children's books, have drawn the attention from many Republican lawmakers and anti-LGBTQ groups.

As the Proud Boys swarmed the event, they drew counterprotesters, police said. The situation grew violent and cops decided to escort one group — the Proud Boys — to a nearby subway station, authorities said.

At least one person was struck by pepper spray and needed medical help during the walk to the station, police said.

"Due to the rapidly evolving situation, a determination was made to place the group on the subway and remove them from the area before the situation could escalate further," a police spokesperson said in a statement. "The group left the area without any further incidents."

But the NYPD's statement rang hollow for many advocates and city lawmakers, who accused cops of giving right-wing extremists special treatment.

“White supremacists act like they’re above the law because too often they are treated that way,” said Shekar Krishnan, Council Member for District 25, which covers Jackson Heights, on Twitter in response to the video.

“This is totally unacceptable.”

Council Member Chi Osse said cops in his district had previously body-slammed and arrested a 19-year-old pregnant Black woman for jumping a turnstile.

"Here you can see @NYCMayor’s NYPD letting multiple Neo-Nazis evade the Subway fare," he posted, with the video.

"Every single one of these cops needs to be fired."

Police said a protest by another far-right group, the Guardians of Divinity, against the NYC-based group United Against Racism & Fascism led to one arrest on Thursday near the library.

John Curry, 32, was arrested for disorderly conduct and resisting arrest, police said.

Four Proud Boys members are accused of plotting and encouraging violence in the build-up to the Jan. 6 Capitol riot.