Violence erupts at pro-Trump rally in Berkeley

Tom Condon of San Francisco, center, a Trump supporter, becomes entangled in the center of a fight after attempting to push protesters back with his cane during a Pro-President Donald Trump rally and march at the Martin Luther King Jr. Civic Center park March 4, 2017 in Berkeley, Calif. less Tom Condon of San Francisco, center, a Trump supporter, becomes entangled in the center of a fight after attempting to push protesters back with his cane during a Pro-President Donald Trump rally and march at ... more Photo: Leah Millis, The Chronicle Buy photo Photo: Leah Millis, The Chronicle Image 1 of / 59 Caption Close Violence erupts at pro-Trump rally in Berkeley 1 / 59 Back to Gallery

At least 10 people were arrested and many others bloodied and bruised as a Berkeley rally supporting President Trump turned violent Saturday when fistfights broke out between marchers and counterprotesters, and crowds of masked anarchists joined the fray.

“This is a sad day,” Berkeley Councilman Ben Bartlett told reporters. “We’re better than this.”

The rally, one of several pro-Trump events held across the United States, began at 2 p.m. at Martin Luther King Jr. Civic Center Park. That’s less than a mile from the UC Berkeley campus where a violent protest Feb. 1 forced the cancellation of a speech by right-wing provocateur Milo Yiannopoulos.

The fighting Saturday started even before the event began, with people throwing punches, swinging signs and tossing smoke bombs. Hundreds of people filled the park, with anarchists and counterdemonstrators far outnumbering what rally sponsors estimated were 60 to 75 Trump supporters.

By 3 p.m., the self-proclaimed anarchists were dominating the crowd. Dressed all in black and wearing cloth bandannas over their faces, they stopped traffic as they marched from the park through downtown with the smaller mix of Trump supporters and counterprotesters. In the park, people opposed to Trump threw eggs and burned both American flags and the red “Make America Great Again” Trump campaign hats.

Kiki Valenzuela, a sophomore at Berkeley High School, was at the rally to protest Trump. She wore a short-sleeved shirt reading “liberal elite” and said she was excited for her first taste of activism. But when the crowds became violent, with people beating each other until they bled, the 16-year-old became scared and ran to the perimeter.

“It’s weird to see the (Trump) supporters in my city and my town,” she said. “It’s the first time for me, and it’s kind of scary and dangerous.”

BART service to downtown Berkeley was suspended for a time due to what transit district officials described as “civil disturbance.”

“This is the most immature and disgusting display of human interaction,” said David Tomes of San Rafael, a pro-Trump marcher with a “Don’t Tread on Me” flag draped around his shoulders and an American flag in one hand. The 49-year-old said he owns a yoga studio in Petaluma and has been targeted for his political beliefs.

Trump supporter Jared Malan, 27, wore civilian fatigues and gripped an American flag as he stood at the park Saturday afternoon, silently watching the bouts of shouting and sign burning.

Malan said most of the Trump supporters left soon after the violence started.

“It got pretty heated. There were a few brawls,” he said. “When we went for the march we were followed. A lot of people were attacked.”

Malan said Trump wasn’t his first choice for president but that he appreciated some of those around him, like Vice President Mike Pence.

“At this point in time, we agree with the stance Trump has made on a few important issues,” he said.

Demonstrators on each side carried signs that either decried or proclaimed support for Trump. The lighthearted tune of an ice cream truck played from a megaphone even as the fights broke out.

The rally quickly devolved into a melee of shouting, shoving and punching. People tossed blue and white smoke bombs, scorching the grass, and a woman fired pepper spray into the crowd.

Protesters had planned to go from the park to the UC Berkeley campus, but because of the troubles only marched in a loop from the park to Shattuck Avenue and back. Shocked residents who had been enjoying their sunny Saturday afternoon stared blankly at the display. Other people held up signs reading, “What’s your ZIP code?” and “I am a local.”

Nancy Chase, who is retired and a Trump supporter, held a sign reading “Grandmothers for Trump.”

“I am here to show support in a positive way,” she said. “I’m not looking for violence. These people just want to fight. They are anarchists in black, and it’s not what we are about. I just want to stand up for liberty.”

By 5:30 p.m. the rally had wound down as people wandered away from the park. Berkeley police arrested 10 people during the event, said city spokesman Matthai Chakko.

While there were complaints that police did not act quickly to break up the fistfights and other attacks, city officials said there were concerns that if police became involved too quickly, the violence could have escalated.

“The goal was to work quickly to identify and arrest anyone specifically involved in criminal activity,” Chakko said. “We also made an attempt to intercede during acts of violence.”

Officers arrested five people on suspicion of battery and four on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon, Chakko said.

One of those nine was arrested on suspicion of possessing an illegal dagger, which he did not use.

Officers also confiscated metal pipes, bats, two-by-four pieces of wood and bricks. Members of the group that brought the bricks were detained but not arrested, Chakko said.

Kat Mclain, 25, of San Francisco was walking the perimeter of the protest at around 4:30 p.m. She said she came to the event because she wanted to talk with the pro-Trump demonstrators but was disappointed as the afternoon devolved into violence.

“I wanted to hear about why people are supporting him,” she said. “I thought it would be fun and interesting. It’s sad what it became.”

Lizzie Johnson and Jenna Lyons are San Francisco Chronicle staff writers. Email: ljohnson@sfchronicle.com, jlyons@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @lizziejohnsonnn, @JennaJourno

Trump supporters rally nationwide

From Colorado’s state Capitol to Trump Tower in New York and the Washington Monument, groups of hundreds of people rallied for President Trump on Saturday, waving “Deplorables for Trump” signs and even carrying a life-size cutout of the president.

“It’s nice to be surrounded by people who share your morals and opinions,” said Chelsea Thomas, an accountant from Thornton, Colo., who brought her family to the March 4 Trump rally in Denver — and the life-size cardboard cutout of Trump.

Supporters at some of the rallies clashed with groups of counterprotesters. Six people protesting the rally in St. Paul, Minn., were arrested on felony riot charges after they lit fireworks inside the Minnesota State Capitol, police said. In Nashville, two people were arrested as protesters clashed with Trump supporters at the Tennessee Capitol. And in Olympia, Wash., the state patrol said four demonstrators were arrested.

Near Mar-a-Lago, the Palm Beach Post reported that Trump’s motorcade briefly stopped so the president could wave at supporters.

Source: Associated Press