Violence breaks out in S.F. as pro-Trump, anti-fascist protest groups clash
Tensions ran high at San Francisco’s United Nations Plaza on Saturday, where dozens of anti-fascists gathered to oppose a small group of President Trump supporters holding what was billed as a free speech rally.
The protest later spread to Twitter headquarters on Market Street, with police officers pushing back against demonstrators who shouted, ““Who do you serve? Who do you protect?”
Around midday on Saturday, people from Team Save America, some wearing red “Make America Great Again” Trump campaign hats and carrying pro-police “Thin Blue Line” flags, set up a stage at the United Nations Plaza Federal Building. Dozens of black-clad demonstrators quickly gathered to oppose the group, holding signs that said, “Smash Fascism” and “Nazi Trump F— Off.”
The rally was organized in protest of what the Team Save America group described as censorship of conservative views by social media companies. About 10 people were on the speech-giving side of the police barricade.
They were outnumbered by hundreds of anti-fascist protesters. Rumors spread on social media that the Proud Boys, a pro-Trump group known for participating in street brawls, would appear at the rally. No members of the organization were immediately seen.
But tensions rapidly built up as demonstrators surrounded some members of the pro-Trump group, chasing them behind a barricade set up to separate the groups.
A short time later, the opposition group confronted Philip Anderson, the organizer of the rally, and another man, arguing about fascism and the police.
After about 10 minutes, the two men started walking away, followed by the black-clad demonstrators. Some people threw punches at the men as they retreated behind a police barrier. A couple of dozen officers holding batons and carrying plastic zip-tie handcuffs on their belts lined a barricade on the stage side.
At about 1 p.m. Anderson took the stage. He was quickly greeted by a barrage of plastic water bottles and glass bottles thrown over the barricade.
“You knocked my tooth out but you’re saying Black lives matter,” said Anderson, who is Black. “I love America and I love this country, but I want free speech.”
At least one Trump supporter was taken from the rally in an ambulance after being attacked by a counter protester. His condition is unknown.
The speech ended after about 15 minutes, and counter-protesters were left confronting a line of riot-gear clad police.
“I do not understand why anyone would want to support Trump,” said Kamryn Manzanares, a 19-year-old from Sacramento.
On some of the violence during the protest, she said she encouraged debate with facts. “I think you should hear them as human beings,” she said.
After the speeches ended, the counter-protesters moved to block McAllister Street as the pro-Trump crowd left the area. Shields were handed out among protesters as police clad in riot gear formed a line to move the crowd off the streets. At one point, pepper spray was deployed, causing coughs among the crowd.
https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/Punches-thrown-as-left-wing-protesters-show-up-at-15655621.php