California Police Declare Unlawful Assembly Following White Lives Matter Protest
Huntington Beach Police from California declared unlawful assembly after demonstrators of White Lives Matter and Black Lives Matter clash in the area on Sunday.
Because of the incident, the authorities have requested the residents around the area of the demonstration to evacuate, as the law enforcement officers try to disperse the "unruly crowd," according to a report from The Hill. The event happened near the pier on Sunday afternoon.
White Lives Matter Protest in Huntington Beach, California
The event was promoted on social media and was dubbed as White Lives Matter protest and is set to start at 1:00 p.m., according to an ABC7 report. The said demonstration was planned on Facebook and Telegram.
Protesters from the White Lives Matter have flags displaying their support to former President Donald Trump and carrying the American flag.
However, approximately about an hour before the reported rally is about to begin, counter-demonstrators from the Black Lives Matter movement arrived in the area and outnumbered the members of their counterparts, according to a CBS Los Angeles report. About 200 Black Lives Matter protesters arrived at the city's pier.
At around 2:36 p.m., the Huntington Beach Police Department declared the scene to be "unlawful assembly."
A small scuffle occurred between two demonstrators when an individual went head-to-head with the counter-protesters. The counter-protesters eventually tore down the flag. The police responded and confiscated the man's flag.
One man was also seen to approach the plaza in front of the city's pier and began chanting, "White lives matter."
Apart from the announcement of the White Lives Matter rally in the area, the residents discovered a pamphlet advertising the same rally on their doorstep, according to an Insider report.
All in all, the people who attended the rally in Huntington Beach were composed of former President Donald Trump supporters, White supremacist groups, and Black Lives Matter supporters.
People Arrested From the White Lives Matter Rally
The Huntington Beach Police Department confirmed with The Hill that they arrested a total of 11 individuals present in the White Live Matter protest. This includes an individual who has a metal baton, two cans of pepper spray, and a knife in his backpack.
A woman was also nabbed by the law enforcement officer for allegedly having pepper spray. Pepper spray is banned in the state during public assemblies. Several additional arrests were made by the police officers in the area for allegedly disturbing the peace.
Other White Supremacist groups also conducted rallies in different cities such as New York, Forth West, and Chicago.
Meanwhile, the California police could not identify who initiated and advertised the White Lives Matter protest in Huntington Beach.
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WATCH: Crowd grows in Huntington Beach before competing rallies - from Los Angeles Times