NEW YORK (1010 WINS) -- Hundreds of people rallied Wednesday night to support a Staten Island bar that was closed this week for defying the state's coronavirus shutdown orders.
Mac's Public House in the Grant City neighborhood had declared itself an "autonomous zone" and was ignoring mandates to close indoor dining. The pub is in a COVID orange zone, where indoor dining is prohibited under rules set by Gov. Andrew Cuomo.
The bar was shut down and one of its co-owners, Danny Presti, arrested Tuesday night.
Hundreds packed shoulder to shoulder Wednesday, many not wearing masks as they waved American flags and blasted music while members of the NYC Sheriff's Office guarded the bar.
"Somebody defund the sheriff!" one man shouted, while others chanted, "Trump! Trump! Trump!" and "Open up! Open up!"
Presti and co-owner Keith McAlarney showed up to show their appreciation.
"We are a community. We take back our community. We're all together. We take back Staten Island tonight," Presti told the crowd.
"Everyone that reached out for support. This is the time. Enough is enough," McAlarney said.
Tempers rose during the rally, with protesters pushing and shoving at times. At one point, they surrounded and then jumped on top of a sheriff vehicle.
No arrests were reported, and the crowd eventually dispersed.
