Eyewitness Describes Violent 'Anti-Racist' Restaurant Attack on Presumed White Supremacists

On May 19, a horde of masked thugs calling themselves "anti-racist activists" (A.R.A.) stormed a restaurant in Tinley Park, Illinois where a group of white supremacists was seemingly meeting.

(Related: Violent Chicago Restaurant Melee Appears to Have Been Protest Attack Against White Supremacist Gathering)

Showing no regard for age or gender, the activists allegedly wielded bats, claw hammers and metal batons during the violent spree, even pushing an 80-year old woman to the ground, according to a former Chicago police officer.

"Hey, b-tches, the A.R.A. is going to f--- up this place," one allegedly shouted, when announcing the group's presence.

The Chicago Sun-Times is now reporting on an interview with an eyewitness:

“Although the terrorist assault lasted only about a minute, it was the longest minute of my life,” the eyewitness said.

[...]

The [man], whose identity the SouthtownStar has agreed to keep private because [he] fears retaliation, said he and his family were having lunch when the frightening attack started. He quickly realized what he thought was a robbery had turned into a fight for his life.

“I also remember thinking that this must be the feeling that passengers experience on a hijacked plane,” he said.

The attackers began upending tables, hurling plates and silverware and attacking other diners.

“I stood up and grabbed a wooden chair as one of the assailants approached from the left. I started swinging the chair to protect my family and other elderly patrons in our corner,” the man says in a written statement. “Suddenly, another assailant charged at me from the right. He was violently swinging a metal baton. The terrorist swung two or three times at my head and face. Thank God I was able to block the brunt (of) his attack with the chair.”

At least ten people were injured in the attack, and three had to be taken to the hospital.

The Chicago Sun-Times further reports:

Five Indiana men who prosecutors say are linked to the Anti-Racist Action Group remain in the Cook County Jail, charged with felony mob action, aggravated battery and criminal damage to property.  They are John Tucker, 26, of Martinsville, Ind.; Cody Sutherlin, 23, and Alex Stuck, 22, both of Bloomington, Ind.; and Dylan Sutherlin, 20, and Jason Sutherlin, 33, both of Gosport, Ind. Two victims also were arrested on charges unrelated to the attack.

The Anti-Racist Action Group (ARA) is a “radical left-wing group” that often resorts to violent acts, said Mark Potok, a senior fellow at The Southern Poverty Law Center, a nonprofit civil rights organization based in Montgomery, Ala. The attack, he said, “did more harm to the cause of fighting racism than almost anyone can imagine.”

The alleged white supremacists meeting at the restaurant reject the term, but the logo of one of its affiliated websites, Stormfront, is "White Pride World Wide" and the description says, "We are a community of white nationalists."

The other related website, "White News Now," describes itself.

“I’ve been mayor [of Tinley Park] for 31 years,” Mayor Ed Zabrocki told ABC, “and I’ve never heard of anything stranger than this.”

(H/T: Drudge Report)