Filed under: IGD
Clashes erupted in Berkeley, CA today as anarchists and antifascists fought with members of the Alt-Right, neo-Nazis, and Trump supporters. Trump supporters openly carried anti-Semitic signs, fascist symbols, and gave neo-Nazi salutes.
Police had stated the day before that they would search people coming into the park for weapons and other items that could be used for “rioting,” however it was clear that police by and large had failed to do so – much less police the area. Law enforcement also set up plastic barriers in the park that gave the Trump supporters access to a “stage” area, in effect, protecting them from counter-demonstrators and enforcing a permit, although one was never obtained, as they focused on policing antifascists.
As the day wore on, street fights continued, and spilled into downtown Berkeley. Meanwhile, much of the Left focused on symbolic marches around Trump’s tax returns, as the media played up fears of general violence while glossing over the fascist nature of the rally itself.
Check out social media feed here and this page for a roundup:
Trump supporters chant blue lives matter. We blast Fuck the police pic.twitter.com/6wWDuShGa8
— Betulapendula (@Betulapendula22) April 15, 2017
Oh cops protecting Nazis. We chant cops & the klan go hand in hand pic.twitter.com/TcvUrPTvex
— Betulapendula (@Betulapendula22) April 15, 2017
More alt-right memes on the pro-trump side as rally goers wave "KEK Flag" (biased on Third rich design) pic.twitter.com/Iv2n8pYYUw
— Mike Kohn (@MikeCKohn) April 15, 2017
Mainly #antifa demonstrators downtown. #berkeleyprotest pic.twitter.com/XqX0aH91uY
— Berkeleyside (@berkeleyside) April 15, 2017
Crazy photos from Reuters of the Berkeley event today pic.twitter.com/7APZixlaXv
— Gideon Resnick (@GideonResnick) April 15, 2017
Shattuck closed to traffic from University to Kittredge as #berkeleyprotest now concentrated at Shattuck and Center. pic.twitter.com/U6ZK3TrQkr
— Berkeleyside (@berkeleyside) April 15, 2017
This guy just went "on the record" to say "black people are inferior to whites, genetically". #PatriotsDay #Berkeley pic.twitter.com/GRXtQ9Wo8y
— Kenzie Borland (@kenziealizabeth) April 15, 2017
It goes on, now five hours in. @EastBayExpress pic.twitter.com/zGzNC08HOH
— Brian Krans (@citizenkrans) April 15, 2017
Berkeley right now. No police in sight, except overhead. pic.twitter.com/084jIyd9T6
— Brian Krans (@citizenkrans) April 15, 2017
https://twitter.com/shane_bauer/status/853348658292469764
https://twitter.com/shane_bauer/status/853347344099627008
Trash fire now separating pro&anti-trump crowds at Berkeley #PatriotsDay protests pic.twitter.com/0wLVxH7NhJ
— Mike Kohn (@MikeCKohn) April 15, 2017
"Stand up, fight back!" #berkrally pic.twitter.com/gjZKPQYxYK
— Harini Shyamsundar (@hshyamsundar) April 15, 2017
Just like liberal ideology. https://t.co/YsqjOeB0Xk
— It's Going Down (@IGD_News) April 15, 2017
Happening Now: Nazi scum getting their asses handed to them by #Antifa comrades in Berkeley, California. Police standing down. #BerkRally https://t.co/NckEPC8WUT
— #RIPBassemMasri ? (@Delo_Taylor) April 15, 2017
https://twitter.com/shane_bauer/status/853340429558759424
https://twitter.com/shane_bauer/status/853340078655000576
Protesters on both sides fighting up and down Center St, Berkeley. @XpressNews pic.twitter.com/cdW8DzWdYR
— Aaron Levy-Wolins (@alevywolins) April 15, 2017
Hundreds congregated and some now starting to March eastwards on Center Street. pic.twitter.com/tdgGAJWWmF
— Berkeleyside (@berkeleyside) April 15, 2017
Berkeley police have stopped intervening a while ago @EastBayExpress pic.twitter.com/kCHoi6hOKh
— Brian Krans (@citizenkrans) April 15, 2017
Constant standoffs at this point. @EastBayExpress pic.twitter.com/DtnPSuYCx5
— Brian Krans (@citizenkrans) April 15, 2017
https://twitter.com/shane_bauer/status/853333501399015424
Liberals are running around with an inflatable chicken askin for trump's fax return while antifa fight actual naizi's in the bay, so it goes
— agitator in chief (@soit_goes) April 15, 2017
The alt-right rallying in Berkeley certainly aren't hiding their anti-semitism today. #defendthebay #BerkRally pic.twitter.com/axk2IOm2Zv
— New York City Antifa (@NYCAntifa) April 15, 2017
No joke, this winner was literally and unironically screaming about how antifa "hide behind masks." #DefendTheBay pic.twitter.com/FxtlB3P7tN
— New York City Antifa (@NYCAntifa) April 15, 2017
Proud Boys and Nathan Damigo out at Trump rally together in #Berkeley. pic.twitter.com/EnPUq70ri5
— It's Going Down (@IGD_News) April 15, 2017
A dumpster has entered the equation. @EastBayExpress pic.twitter.com/09urpGs6ui
— Brian Krans (@citizenkrans) April 15, 2017
Hundreds of #AntiFa clash with hundreds of white supremacists & trump supporters in #Berkeley https://t.co/EZAIUc4RyT #DefendTheBay pic.twitter.com/4ZFsgTuBwX
— EMPⒶTHY (@MrNikoG) April 15, 2017
https://twitter.com/shane_bauer/status/853329587857539072
Nazi salute from #MAGA crowd earlier in #Berkeley. Pic taken via @shane_bauer video. #Antifa #defendthebay pic.twitter.com/wJv9XosrY2
— ѕyndιcalιѕт (@syndicalisms) April 15, 2017
Antifa side chanting "no more presidents" #berkrally pic.twitter.com/RixhoglnCS
— Bobby Lee (@robert_s_lee) April 15, 2017
Nathan Damigo of neo-Nazi organization Identity Evropa standing with megaphone in blue on left on pro-Trump side. #NoNazisInBerkeley pic.twitter.com/QZqSSxPm4m
— It's Going Down (@IGD_News) April 15, 2017
AntiFa has arrived, take down BPD barrier. @EastBayExpress pic.twitter.com/Z3p3M8pTvi
— Brian Krans (@citizenkrans) April 15, 2017