A bus with social conservative slogans denouncing transgenderism was vandalized Thursday in New York City by trans activists.
The so-called "Free Speech Bus" is based off a similar one set up by activists in Madrid. After Spanish transgender activists put up posters reading, "There are girls with penises and boys with vulvas. It's as simple as that," a conservative Catholic group drove around a bus with the opposite message: "Boys have penises, girls have vulvas. Do not be fooled."
The Spanish bus was eventually shut down and impounded when the Madrid City Council dug up a municipal code banning outdoor advertising. Liberals in Spain and the United States alike applauded the decision, including Chelsea Clinton.
Please don't bring these buses to the U.S. (or anywhere). https://t.co/WEvIIptmxf
— Chelsea Clinton (@ChelseaClinton) March 1, 2017
But the National Organization for Marriage duplicated the campaign in the U.S.
"Boys are boys ... and always will be. Girls are girls ... and always will be," the U.S. version reads. The group termed the bus the "Free Speech Bus," while LGBT activists countered with the monicker "Hate Bus."
Whatever its name, the bus never left New York. The National Organization for Marriage announced Thursday that the bus had been defaced by angry activists wielding hammers.
BREAKING: #freespeechbus vandalized, windows broken in broad daylight in NYC. Police report filed; pictures soon. Onward! RT #gottolerance?
— NOM (@NOMupdate) March 23, 2017
Any prominent LGBT leaders who will come out and publically condemn this? Or is this now acceptable behavior? #FreeSpeechBus #shame pic.twitter.com/1wbNnnhTzL
— NOM (@NOMupdate) March 23, 2017
National Organization for Marriage president Brian Brown told USA Today that the driver of the bus tried to stop the vandals, but was tackled by one of the activists.
"If they thought that would silence us, they were totally wrong," Brown said.
Some liberal New York activists praised the vandalism.
"NYC getting their tour started off right. #AntiTransphobiaAction," tweeted the New York City Antifa.