An apparent member of the far-left extremist group, Antifa, who physically attacked an elderly participant of right-wing activist Mike Cernovich’s “Night For freedom” event in Manhattan in January 2018 faces up to 18 months in prison.
David Campbell, 32, pleaded guilty to second-degree attempted gang assault, and second-degree assault with intent to cause physical injury to a police officer, court records show.
Campbell will reappear in court on Oct. 23 when the sentencing will be handed down, sources near the Manhattan District Attorney Cy Vance Jr. told The New York Post.
On the night of Jan. 20, 2018, Cernovich, an author, journalist, and documentary filmmaker, hosted an event called “A Night For Freedom,” at FREQ NYC, a trendy night club in West Manhattan, to celebrate the anniversary of President Donald Trump’s inauguration.
Campbell allegedly followed the victim as he left the venue and attacked him, hospitalizing him and nearly killing him. Cernovich called out the press for largely ignoring the incident:
“When the Proud Boys got into a street fight with Antifa members, it was a nationwide story. The Mayor and AG tweeted about the street fight,” Cernovich told the New York Post. “When Antifa attacked a 56-year-old man, silence from the press.”
“Now that the criminal case is closed, I will also be taking legal action against Mr. Campbell and his confederates,” he added. “It is time to find out who is funding Antifa.”
The Incident
The 56-year-old man attending the event was knocked down with a punch to the head and strangled by a black-clad member of the Antifa extremist group, WCBS reported.
A video from the scene of the attack shows the victim bleeding on the sidewalk as police officers surround the handcuffed attacker. The victim was transported to Bellevue Hospital and listed in stable condition.
“I saw him hit the old man,” witness Ali Thomas told Daily News. “One hit. He swung hard. He hit him hard. The old man’s head hit the curb.”
NYPD officers arrested David Campbell, a Brooklyn resident. Campbell was charged with strangulation, assault, criminal possession of a weapon, assault of a police officer, resisting arrest, loitering, and obstruction of government administration, according to New York Post.
The event was billed as a “gathering of patriots and political dissidents who are bored with mainstream political events.” The festivities included a DJ set, a comedy routine, and speeches.
Epoch Times reporter Ivan Pentchoukov contributed to this report.
