DA: 'Vigilante' George Graf Charged For Assaulting Journalist, Woman During Clash In Fishtown
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- A Philadelphia man has been charged for his role in the assault of a journalist and a woman during a tense confrontation in Fishtown on June 1. Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner and Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw announced Thursday 36-year-old George Graf has been charged with aggravated assault and related charges.
The charges stem from a confrontation when Fishtown residents -- some armed with baseball bats -- clashed with protesters outside of the 26th Police District during the protests in the city following George Floyd's killing.
Krasner says Graf attacked a producer for WHYY. The producer had been taping a group of people holding bats and walking around Fishtown after curfew.
A woman with the producer was also pushed.
The DA says the group was engaging in confrontations with Black Lives Matter protesters.
"This was basically an attack by a small mob of people and it is very logical to assume they were outraged that their threatening, assaultive, illegal, racist conduct and threats and words had been recorded," Krasner said.
Krasner said multiple people were part of the attack. An investigation continues.
Mayor Jim Kenney called the group's actions "antagonistic and made a bad situation worse."
He also said that "armed vigilantism will not be tolerated moving forward."
