Comedian W. Kamau Bell and others celebrate in Berkeley on Sunday.Madison Pauly
Right-wing rallies planned for San Francisco largely fizzled on Saturday, but thousands of counterprotesters filled the streets, demonstrating against hate. Today, all eyes turn to Berkeley. As we explained last week:
[O]n Sunday, August 27, an estimated 300 people are supposed to descend on an anti-communist rally, known as “No to Marxism in America,” in Berkeley’s Martin Luther King Jr. Civic Center Park. The online event’s organizer, Amber Cummings, recently decried white nationalists and called for nonviolent demonstrations; she posted on Facebook, “I myself am a transsexual female who embraces diversity and loves diversity. This event is not a event of hate speech.” Even still, politicians and city officials have expressed concern that the rally could attract far-right agitators, particularly as the location was the site of clashes between right-wing groups and counterdemonstrators earlier this year.
It’s unclear whether that event will actually happen. On Friday, Cummings released a statement saying, “I will be attending the event alone. I stress I DO NOT WANT ANYONE COMING and if they do you will be turned away.” Meanwhile, Joey Gibson, the organizer of Saturday’s unsuccessful right-wing “Patriot Prayer” rally, wrote yesterday that his group would descend on Berkeley on Sunday.
Regardless of what happens, counterprotesters are expected to be out in force. We’ve got reporters on the scene and will keep you up to date on the latest developments.
2:50 pm PT: The crowd, consisting of both antifa and everyday folks, has decamped from Berkeley’s Civic Center Park, marched a few blocks to Ohlone Park on Berkeley’s Northside, and declared victory. Things have calmed down, at least for now. And hey, look who’s at the barricades…
.@wkamaubell at head of celebration march back to Ohlone Park pic.twitter.com/WYwrKieuU5
— Madison Pauly (@msjpauly) August 27, 2017
https://twitter.com/shane_bauer/status/901930363240333312
"We won. We won. We won." #berkeley antiracist protesters celebrate along Ohlone Park named for native Bay Area peoples pic.twitter.com/IfNbcZ5mPF
— Madison Pauly (@msjpauly) August 27, 2017
Talked with @berkeleypolice Officer Jennifer Coats
– 14 arrested
– peak Civic Center Park crowd ~4000
– no confirmation of Gibson arrest pic.twitter.com/rEqidHZ6W7— George Kelly 📰 (@allaboutgeorge) August 27, 2017
Antifa, DSA, other organized protesters leaving Civic Center park, heading north up MLK. About 100 ppl still lingering in the park. pic.twitter.com/CM5dgUJVlL
— Madison Pauly (@msjpauly) August 27, 2017
2:32 pm PT:
David Spinner and Andrea Kean, longtime #Berkeley residents, not bothered by tear gas. "We're proud to be fighting Nazis" pic.twitter.com/WLmuHeASnz
— Madison Pauly (@msjpauly) August 27, 2017
Madison Pauly also has been talking with the medics:
This street medic came prepared to deal with blunt trauma #Berkeley
"People are more willing to swing a club than stab someone with a knife" pic.twitter.com/GEIuD7aYaH— Madison Pauly (@msjpauly) August 27, 2017
Another Mojo reporter required their services:
https://twitter.com/shane_bauer/status/901915423653871616
2:26 pm PT:
"Take his camera, take his phone," they are shouting at a journalist. #berkeley pic.twitter.com/hvsQ5eXalE
— Lizzie Johnson (@lizziejohnsonnn) August 27, 2017
1:50 pm PT: Mojo reporters confirm police are firing off teargas at antifa crowd. And reports of rubber bullets as well. Things have turned very sour.
https://twitter.com/shane_bauer/status/901910367239938048
https://twitter.com/shane_bauer/status/901909988792180737
(SF Chronicle reporter Lizzie Johnson tweeted this update later…)
Gibson wasn't arrested, officials say. He's considered a "rescue." No further details. #berkeley https://t.co/eVtz5hyjJv
— Lizzie Johnson (@lizziejohnsonnn) August 27, 2017
https://twitter.com/shane_bauer/status/901909971637379072
The police are firing rubber bullets in #Berkeley. Blocks away, a couple with a young daughter were walking toward it. Stay away.
— Lizzie Johnson (@lizziejohnsonnn) August 27, 2017
1:30 pm PT: Black Bloc crowd has taken over Civic Center park.
Anti racist protesters climb barricade and push into Civic Center park #Berkeley pic.twitter.com/IYt3kTjJZU
— Madison Pauly (@msjpauly) August 27, 2017
The #Berkeley police have stood down. A sea of black masks as far as I can see. This is what WAS NOT supposed to happen. pic.twitter.com/uqsFJqPqd7
— Lizzie Johnson (@lizziejohnsonnn) August 27, 2017
1:21 pm PT: Berkeley Police donning gas masks. An officer told our reporter they may use gas—without warning.
https://twitter.com/shane_bauer/status/901902402462261248
1:00 pm PT:
March from Ohlone is stopped 2 blocks from Civic C, waiting for march from UC Berkeley Crescent to join. "We'll all take the park together." pic.twitter.com/iKRNBE2Mut
— Madison Pauly (@msjpauly) August 27, 2017
March of rally against hate continuing towards civic center to join other counter protestors at civic center pic.twitter.com/WYfnNEty2K
— Kate Harloe (@kateharloe) August 27, 2017
12:55 pm PT:
Hundreds in anti fascist march starting to leave Ohlone Park and march down Hearst. "1, 2, 1-2-3, Down with white supremacy." pic.twitter.com/hNkLyC9lVr
— Madison Pauly (@msjpauly) August 27, 2017
Medics (red crosses) handing out sunscreen and water as Ohlone Park antifascist march heads east down Hearst pic.twitter.com/K29LHqkpIT
— Madison Pauly (@msjpauly) August 27, 2017
"Todos somos antifascista." #Berkeley pic.twitter.com/8kC15prf7A
— Madison Pauly (@msjpauly) August 27, 2017
Chris with the National Lawyers Guild is one of more than 100 legal observers out if #Berkeley to monitor police for civil rights violations pic.twitter.com/faT2TZraDS
— Madison Pauly (@msjpauly) August 27, 2017
12:30 pm PT:
https://twitter.com/shane_bauer/status/901882141180440576
12:20 pm PT:
https://twitter.com/m_katzzz/status/901886363414347776
12:10 pm PT:
We have no words to add to this.
Pictured: Ben Stern, 95, Holocaust survivor, counterprotesting in #Berkeley today. Updates at https://t.co/PSeHDagXDS pic.twitter.com/norxKqC1cv
— KQED News (@KQEDnews) August 27, 2017
12:07 pm PT:
#RESIST.
WATCH LIVE Sky7: Hundreds of demonstrators take to the streets in Berkeley: https://t.co/LXlZXboEUv pic.twitter.com/sFApn0WKZR
— ABC7 News (@abc7newsbayarea) August 27, 2017
12:05 pm PT:
Right-wing activists seem to be vastly outnumbered by counterprotesters once again.
https://twitter.com/shane_bauer/status/901881438198423553
Everywhere the Trumpers try to give interviews to the news cameras in Berkeley, chants and loud whistles drown them out. pic.twitter.com/zR9JiCOt9D
— Jack Smith IV (@JackSmithIV) August 27, 2017
12:00 pm PT:
Police are breaking up scuffles between Trump supporters and counterprotesters:
https://twitter.com/shane_bauer/status/901881013332094976
https://twitter.com/m_katzzz/status/901881215703060480
Arrests here in #Berkeley Civic Center pic.twitter.com/GcyVbTgI5Q
— Gabrielle Canon (@GabrielleCanon) August 27, 2017
10:50 am PT:
Counterprotesters are gathering for Berkeley’s Rally Against Hate.
Counter protestors gathering near UC Berkeley for the Rally Against Hate. "No hate, no fear, nazis get out of here." pic.twitter.com/YSqIZFZSze
— Kate Harloe (@kateharloe) August 27, 2017
10:40 am PT:
Small confrontations are already taking place.
A counter-protester gets in a Trumper's face to confront him, Trump supporter pivots to cameras to say this is evidence of leftist violence. pic.twitter.com/TiOCl7iAFw
— Jack Smith IV (@JackSmithIV) August 27, 2017
"I wish you weren't here today." Replies: "Well I wish you weren't here today either." #berkeley pic.twitter.com/GaM3JyFqKP
— Lizzie Johnson (@lizziejohnsonnn) August 27, 2017
10:25 am PT:
More than 500 police officers are on hand to try to control the crowds and prevent the type of violence that happened in Charlottesville.
https://twitter.com/m_katzzz/status/901853219764051968
Bag screenings happening at civic center park in Berkeley. pic.twitter.com/CmY8pDUFG3
— Cornell Barnard (@CornellBarnard) August 27, 2017
About 20 California Highway Patrol keeping an eye on the Ohlone Greenway dog park pic.twitter.com/a76f5HBPoP
— Madison Pauly (@msjpauly) August 27, 2017
10:17 am PT:
Gibson is still saying he plans to appear in Berkeley today…
Joey Gibson, organizer of yesterday's failed Patriot Prayer rally in SF, is promising to pop up in Berkeley this morning. pic.twitter.com/V4oMD8Ov3W
— Madison Pauly (@msjpauly) August 27, 2017
…residents of Berkeley, meanwhile, are making their views clear.
Sigh hanging above park in #Berkeley where rallies are scheduled for later today pic.twitter.com/OPP5VOvZ6h
— Thomas Peele (@thomas_peele) August 27, 2017
Antifa sign on University Ave. ped. bridge greets motorists on I-80 in Berkeley. pic.twitter.com/Eyc3ztEP0i
— Karl Mondon (@karlmondon) August 27, 2017
