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Pro-Trump and anti-Trump protesters clash in Berkeley
Tensions continue to grow in Berkeley as pro-Trump and anti-Trump protesters clash. (Elijah Nouvelage/Getty Images)

Pro-Trump and anti-Trump protesters clash in Berkeley

A right-wing "Say No to Marxism in America" rally was scheduled to take place in Berkeley on Saturday but organizers canceled the event over the fear of violence. A handful of rally participants still showed up, causing counter protesters to come out of the woodwork en masse, SF Gate reported.

Counter protesters held an event called "Rally Against Hate" beginning at 10:30 a.m. near the Berkeley college campus. Police in the area prepared for potential clashes amongst opposing groups by blocking off West Crescent park, which sits on the Berkeley campus, the Los Angeles Times reported.

Campus police decided to block off the area and limit access, something UC Berkeley spokesman Dan Mogulof said is about protecting people.

"The single objective is protecting people.… It is not to shut down speech," Mongulof told the Times.

According to civil rights attorney and counter protester Anne Weills, campus police set up barricades to prevent cars from coming into the area, a reference made to the killing of Heather Heyer in Charlottesville, Virginia.

A few blocks up the road at Martin Luther King park, Trump supporters gathered.

Jordan Davis, 25, wore a Trump flag over his shoulders at the rally.

"I'm doing my part being out here,” Davis told the Times. "I support the president's America first message."

The request for permits

Multiple groups on both sides of the political aisle filed requests for permits but were denied. According to city officials, they denied at least three requests for permits, the Times reported.

Amber Cummings, the organizers of the "Say No to Marxism in America" rally asked rally participants not to show up because the rally had "lost its meaning," SF Gate reported.

Joey Gibson, the organizer of Saturday’s “Patriot Prayer” rally in San Francisco, followed suit.

Shouting matches

Individuals from both sides began partaking in one-on-one name calling. Police had to break a screaming match between a Trump supporter and a counter protester who was in his face.

Arthur Schaller of Los Angeles County handed out cards with American flags on it as he told people the movement was bigger than Joey Gibson, the organizer of the "Patriot Prayer" rally.

“This is a movement bigger than Joey Gibson,” Schaller said, SF Gate reported. “This state is a beautiful state. We just have bad people running it. We need to expose that hatred in the left. All I want is for liberals and Trump supporters to show up and talk today.”

"No hate" rally

Another rally took place in Ohlone Park. Participants carried signs condemning white supremacy, racism and hate speech.

“It’s important for people to show up and make it unacceptable for right-wing white supremacists to spew hate and incite violence," rally organizer Jeff Conant, 50, of Berkeley, told SF Gate.

Arrests

Berkeley police detained multiple people who were caught covering their faces, despite being told no masks were permitted.

Counter protesters chanted, “No Trump, no KKK, no racist USA."

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Beth Baumann

Beth Baumann

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