The Washington Post has a good article out today describing the violence that took place at Berkeley, which they say clearly was the fault of both anarchists and Antifa members:
WAPO – Their faces hidden behind black bandannas and hoodies, about 100 anarchists and antifa— “anti-fascist” — members barreled into a protest Sunday afternoon in Berkeley’s Martin Luther King Jr. Civic Center Park.
Jumping over plastic and concrete barriers, the group melted into a larger crowd of around 2,000 that had marched peacefully throughout the sunny afternoon for a “Rally Against Hate” gathering.
Shortly after, violence began to flare. A pepper-spray-wielding Trump supporter was smacked to the ground with homemade shields. Another was attacked by five black-clad antifa members, each windmilling kicks and punches into a man desperately trying to protect himself. A conservative group leader retreated for safety behind a line of riot police as marchers chucked water bottles, shot off pepper spray and screamed, “Fascist go home!”
All told, the Associated Press reported at least five individuals were attacked. An AP reporter witnessed the assaults. Berkeley Police’s Lt. Joe Okies told The Washington Post the rally resulted in “13 arrests on a range of charges including assault with a deadly weapon, obstructing a police officer, and various Berkeley municipal code violations.
And although the anti-hate and left-wing protesters largely drowned out the smaller clutch of far-right marchers attending a planned “No to Marxism in America” rally, Sunday’s confrontation marked another street brawl between opposing ends of the political spectrum — violence that has become a regular feature of the Trump years and gives signs of spiraling upward, particularly in the wake of the violence in Charlottesville.”
Indeed here’s a video of a reported father and son getting beat up by Antifa members:
Antifa terrorists attacking father and son in #Berkeley. No police in sightpic.twitter.com/PqoFWhOmjp
— Tennessee (@realTEN_GOP) August 27, 2017
Here’s how Circa describes the event:
An anti-hate rally in Berkeley, California, briefly turned violent Sunday when scores of anarchists swarmed the protest and attacked people supporting President Trump.
Thousands had gathered in Berkeley in response to a planned anti-Marxism protest that was scrapped amid concerns that participants may be attacked.
The counter-demonstration remained largely peaceful for several hours before members of the so-called “Antifa” movement swarmed police barricades shielding the protest area.
Six people suffered injuries in the ensuing melee, with two people getting hospitalized and one police officer suffering an injury while making an arrest.
Several other police officers were hit with paint, and the situation ultimately resulted in 13 arrests on various charges, including assault with a deadly weapon.
Berkeley Police Chief Andrew Greenwood on Sunday said officers were instructed not to actively confront the anarchists.
“[There was] no need for a confrontation over a grass patch,” he said, noting restraint from authorities prevented worse violence.
“The potential use of force became very problematic,” Greenwood added, citing the thousands of people present at the event.
Greenwood additionally said he ordered officers out of the area when it became clear left-and-right-leaning protesters would not clash.
The demonstration ultimately ended several hours later without additional incident, according to The Associated Press.
I’m sure some of these people getting beat on by these left-wing thugs might have a different perspective on the police not actively intervening.