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California ready for weekend of politically charged protests San Francisco rally is cancelled by right-wing group
(about 7 hours later)
Two California cities are bracing for protests by right-wing groups this weekend amid fears of clashes with left-wing counter-demonstrators. A "free speech" rally due to be held by right-wing groups in the city of San Francisco on Saturday has been cancelled by its organisers, citing security fears.
San Francisco's mayor is urging residents to boycott a "free speech" rally in the city on Saturday. The group Patriot Prayer said it would instead hold a press conference on Saturday at a location outside the protected zone set up by police.
A "No Marxism in America" protest is planned for Sunday in the ultraliberal bastion of Berkeley. A permit for the rally was granted earlier this week.
Critics have said the events will promote hate, which organisers deny. A counter-march is still due to place on Saturday.
Organisers of both demonstrations have said the Ku Klux Klan, neo-Nazis and white supremacists are not welcome. San Francisco mayor Ed Lee had opposed the "free speech" rally, but he said its location - Crissy Field - was federal land and therefore was not within his jurisdiction.
Local politicians have depicted Saturday's protest - organised by Oregon-based Patriot Prayer - as an extremist gathering. Patriot Prayer is considered to be connected with the alt-right and other far-right groups, but the group insists its message is unity and freedom of speech.
Critics point to plans for the far-right Oath Keepers to provide armed security. Organisers quoted by SFGate said that they had decided to cancel the event because of fears it could turn violent and because speakers and bands due to perform at the gathering had been "harassed".
House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi - who represents San Francisco - said it would be a "white supremacist rally in the middle of a park for families and children". A "No Marxism in America" protest - planned for Sunday - is still due to go ahead in the ultraliberal bastion of Berkeley.
She added that "we must all pray it does not become an invitation to incite violence". Critics had warned that both events would promote hate, which organisers denied.
Organisers of the two demonstrations insisted that the Ku Klux Klan, neo-Nazis and white supremacists would not be welcome.
Local politicians depicted Saturday's Patriot Prayer protest as an extremist gathering.
Critics pointed to plans for the far-right Oath Keepers to provide armed security.
House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi - who represents San Francisco - said before the cancellation that it would be a "white supremacist rally in the middle of a park for families and children".
But Patriot Prayer founder Joey Gibson said in a video message posted on the group's Facebook page that it was "absolutely not" white supremacist.But Patriot Prayer founder Joey Gibson said in a video message posted on the group's Facebook page that it was "absolutely not" white supremacist.
Mr Gibson points out that he is himself mixed race. Mr Gibson pointed out that he is himself mixed race and that all he had been trying to do was to promote freedom, love, peace and free speech.
"What I'm trying to do is bring people together who believe in freedom, who believe in love, believe in peace and believe in free speech," he said.
The Southern Poverty Law Center, which tracks hate groups, does not classify Patriot Prayer in those terms.The Southern Poverty Law Center, which tracks hate groups, does not classify Patriot Prayer in those terms.
It notes that Mr Gibson denounced white supremacists and neo-Nazis at a rally in Seattle this month. It noted that Mr Gibson denounced white supremacists and neo-Nazis at a rally in Seattle this month.
San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee lobbied the National Park Service to ban Patriot Prayer from gathering at Crissy Field, a public park near the Golden Gate Bridge.San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee lobbied the National Park Service to ban Patriot Prayer from gathering at Crissy Field, a public park near the Golden Gate Bridge.
But the permit was granted on Wednesday.But the permit was granted on Wednesday.
Mayor Lee said: "I ask our public and our residents of the San Francisco Bay Area to honour our request to not dignify people who are coming in here under the guise of patriot and prayer words to really preach violence and hatred." Other right-wing protesters meanwhile have insisted that their "No to Marxism" event on Sunday will take place near the University of California at Berkeley.
He urged locals to instead attend city-hosted events over the weekend that he said would promote "inclusion, compassion and love rather than hate". The college has been a flashpoint between right and left radicals since the election of US President Donald Trump.
Left-wing counter-protesters are planning a march to Crissy Field.
They are asking city residents online not to pick up their dog's waste in the area where the Patriot Prayer rally will be held.
A Facebook group called "Leave your dog poop on Crissy Field" has received over 1,000 RSVPs.
Organisers of that counter-protest said they would return on Sunday to "clean up the mess and hug each other".
Officials have released a list of nearly 30 banned items, including flag poles, which have been used in clashes at recent political protests.
Sunday's event - billed as "No to Marxism" - will take place near the University of California at Berkeley.
The college has been a flashpoint between right and left since the election of US President Donald Trump.
However, city officials denied that group a permit, putting the event in jeopardy.
An anti-racism demonstrator was killed amid clashes at a far-right rally two weeks ago in Charlottesville, Virginia.
Last weekend, 33 people were arrested in Boston amid clashes at dueling protests.