What was upsetting was that leadership didn't condemn it and even admitted that they were afraid and had no control over the thugs.
I always find it ironic that specifically the communities where the gedolim have the most sway, are also the communities in which the leadership is 'afraid' to talk about certain issues if it means confronting loud idiots.
If they can't mobilize their flock to protest and stand up against their members who are commiting chillul Hashem, then they either lack the authority ppl claim they have, or don't care enough about the topic matter at hand.
This is not intended to be a comment about the 80s Satmer/Chabad issues, as the only info I know about them is what I've read on Wikipedia and in some other summaries.