Coney Island's Gargiulo’s Restaurant Cancels NRA Fundraiser After Protest

Storied Coney Island restaurant Gargiulo's canceled a planned National Rifle Association fundraiser, amid mounting pressure from local elected officials and residents to call it off.

The restaurant posted on Twitter Thursday that they'd had a change of heart.

"The Russo family of Gargiulo's Restaurant has provided a venue for thousands of community events & family celebrations," the tweet said. "They thank everyone for their interest in this important dialogue & have decided it best to cancel the event."

Earlier, Gargiulo's co-owner Louis Russo told WNYC that the restaurant was contractually obligated to Brooklyn Friends of NRA, which booked the facility months in advance. After the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Davis High School in Parkland, Fla., the event began to generate mass outrage. A particular flash point was the raffle, where attendees could walk away with a .38 revolver, a rifle or a shotgun.

Gargiulo's played host to Brooklyn Friends of NRA last year without any public outcry, according to the restaurant.

The NRA didn't return a request for comment.