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Several arrested during anti-Marxist and opposing rallies at Berkeley Vandalism, scuffles in Berkley as right-wing and left-wing protesters gather a year after clashes
(about 11 hours later)
Berkeley police have arrested several people as scuffles broke out during two opposing rallies in downtown Berkeley, California. One demo is against Marxism in America, the other group is counter protesters. Berkley police managed to prevent major clashes on Sunday, when right-wing ‘anti-Marxists’ and left-wing counter protesters gathered in the city a year after a similar situation escalated into violence.
Seventeen people were arrested in connection with Sunday protests, Berkeley police said, posting the offenders' mugshots on its Twitter page. Most were detained for possessing banned weapons, battery, vandalism and working with others to commit a crime. Police reported arresting some 20 people during the rallies, most of them for possession of banned weapons. No major injuries were reported as police managed to keep the right-wing rally in the Civic Center Park away from the left-wing counter-rally – unlike in 2017.
The epicenter of the protest was Civic Center Park where several scuffles broke out. A few scuffles broke out in the park, where some counter-protesters had gathered before the police cordon was erected, but law enforcement intervened to stop the violence.
Live video from the scene showed protesters beating drums and chanting slogans as police officers tried to separate rival crowds. The right-wing rally participants were seen carrying US flags and banners supporting the US President Donald Trump and shouting slogans against "communism," while the left-wing counter-protesters could be heard chanting “No Trump, no KKK [Ku Klux Klan], no fascist USA” and “Fascists out of Berkeley!” Live video from the scene showed protesters beating drums and chanting slogans. The right-wing rally participants were seen carrying US flags and banners supporting President Donald Trump and shouting slogans against “communism,” while the left-wing counter-protesters could be heard chanting “No Trump, no KKK [Ku Klux Klan], no fascist USA” and “Fascists out of Berkeley!”
Heavy police presence in full riot gear was aimed at preventing the opposing rallies from clashing, according to authorities. On one occasion, police clashed with a group of left-wing activists, who were trying to push their way into the park using a section of chain-link fence and a few garbage bins. The police were reportedly attacked by them with firecrackers before responding with smoke bombs and rubber-bullet fire.
“We’re not going to allow anyone who has banned items into that park. We’re also making an effort to keep opposing groups separated,” Berkeley Police spokesman Officer Byron White told Berkleyside. In another incident, masked left-wing protesters vandalized municipal cars, smashing windshields and setting one of them on fire. The fire was quickly extinguished by city employees, according to footage of the incident.
Earlier, the city of Berkeley issued a list of banned weapons and items, which included “sticks, pipes, poles and anything else that can be used for a ‘riot.'” The right-wing rally dubbed “No to Marxism in America 2 / Exposing Communism” was sponsored by Amber Gwen Cummings, a self-described transgender patriot, who says she has a beef with radical, violent leftists, who describe themselves as anti-fascists. The Sunday event is a follow-up to a similar rally that Cummings organized in August 2017.
The right-wing rally dubbed “No to Marxism in America 2 / Exposing Communism” was sponsored by Amber Gwen Cummings, a self-described transgender patriot, who says she has a beef with radical, violent leftists, who self-describe as antifascists. The Sunday event is a follow-up to a similar rally that Cummings organized in August 2017. Last year, the march ended up with some protesters being arrested and some people being seriously injured, prompting police to take heavy security measures this time. The counter-protests were attended by members of leftist groups Refuse Fascism and By Any Means Necessary, along with a few others.
The last year march ended up with some protesters being arrested and some people being seriously injured, prompting the police to take heavy security measures this time. The counter-protests are particularly attended by the members of leftist groups Refuse Fascism and By Any Means Necessary, along with a few others.