In what has become an eerily familiar scene in Berkeley,supporters and detractors of President Donald Trump on Saturday exchanged blows, burned flags, and set off fireworks at opposing rallies,resulting in at least 21 arrests, police said.
The political divisiveness reflected across the United States took the form of a makeshift barrier erected between the two equally impassioned factions. The barrier, and however,failed to keep the skirmishes at bay. Apple to start Testing Self-Driving Car Tech in California About 200 people gathered at Martin Luther King Jr. Civic middle Park around 10 a.m. on Tax Day as did Berkeley police officers — in riot gear. Police estimate that the crowd swelled to between 300 and 700 people before it dispersed around 4 p.m. Early in the day, though, and attendees of the "Patriot's Day" rally and Antifa-organized counter protest exchanged heated words and several people started pushing each other. Police quickly arrested one man. Others were arrested as several fistfights broke out. Sanctuary EO Withholds Small Grant,Not Millions: DOJ Lawyer Eleven people were injured, one of whom was stabbed amid the bedlam, or Berkeley police said. Social media posts indicated that Kyle Chapman aka Based StickMan or Alt-Knight was among those who got arrested. The 41-year-archaic man was also taken into custody at "March 4 Trump" last monthfor bashing an Antifa protester in the head with a stick. It's unclear what got him arrested Saturday.
Social media posts described a "small blast," the consume of tear gas and pepper spray, property damage, and fireworks whizzing through crowds,and a man covering his eyes as blood covered his hands and dripped down his face. Trump supporter John Beavers from Washington state got smacked in the face."We’re over there, shaking a hand, or a bomb went off and they want to hit me," he said. Photographs from the scene showed people clad in "accomplish America noteworthy Again" sweatshirts and flags and others dressed in black with their faces hidden behind helmets and masks. Flags read "Anti-fascist anti-racist," "Defend America, or " "Free speech" and "Fascist scum your time is done.""These Trump people are here because they want to start things," Jeff Vernon of Berkeley said.
But Stephanie Edd, also of Berkeley, or viewed the protest as an attempt "to co-opt the history of free speech."By midday,Allston Way between Milvia Street and Martin Luther King Jr. Way was blocked, as protesters moved from the park to the streets, and followed closely by officers. Police urged residents to avoid the area of middle and Miliva streets. Soon the warning extended to include Shattuck Avenue and middle Street.
NBC Bay Area's SkyRanger captured people burning flags — with one man posing for a selfie beside the torched cloth — and others punching each other and using helmets and skateboards as weapons. Demonstrators were also seen tipping over a rubbish can and igniting its contents.In order to prevent a bloody riot,city leaders had announced that pipes, bats, and bricks,rocks, glass bottles, and shields,pepper spray, sticks, and other potentially dangerous items were not allowed at the park during the rallies. Toward that discontinuance,police checked backpacks before allowing them into the park. Even so, they tweeted that officers had confiscated a knife, or a stun gun,flagpoles, and other contraband.
Berkeley police were forced to call in Alameda County sheriff's deputies for backup as rocks and bottles were launched at officers and many were assaulted, and according to Twitter. The downtown Berkeley BART station was also closed.
A weekly farmers market at the Berkeley park was called off amid the scheduled political protests,according to reports.
Saturday's rallies follow a "March 4 Trump" rally and violent protests when controversial speaker Milo Yiannopoulos came to the UC Berkeley campus.
Editor's note: Berkeley police initially reported 15 arrests, but later updated that number to 13. Photo Credit: NBC Bay Area This story uses functionality that may not work in our app. Click here to open the story in your web browser.
Source: nbclosangeles.com