
Three people were stabbed on Saturday, one of whom was critically wounded, in a scuffle between members of the Ku Klux Klan and counter-protesters near a planned KKK rally at a park in Anaheim, California, police said.

Twelve people were arrested following the melee, including one Klan member who is accused of stabbing a counter-protester with a flagpole, Anaheim Police Sergeant Daron Wyatt said.

Five members of the KKK group, four men and one woman, were arrested on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon in connection to the stabbings. Four of them have since be released after video surfaced showing they were 'clearly attacked', Wyatt told Daily Mail Online.

Seven counter-protesters, six men and one woman, were arrested on suspicion of assault with force likely to cause great bodily injury as authorities said they stomped on two Klan members on the ground.

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A Klansman and a protester are seen above as they fight for an American flag as violence escalated on Saturday in Pearson Park where the KKK had planned a rally

Counter-protesters scuffle with a Ku Klux Klansman in Anaheim, California on Saturday afternoon. Three people were stabbed, one of which was critically wounded, police said

Paramedics tend to a counter protester who was stabbed after members of the KKK tried to start a "White Lives Matter" rally at Pearson Park

In this photo provided by OC Weekly, a stabbing victim receives first aid from an Anaheim Police Officer, at Pearson Park in Anaheim

A Klansman, left, uses an American flag to fend off angry counter protesters near a planned rally at Pearson Park

In this scene from the scuffle, counter protesters appear to fight with a KKK member as he stabs an attacking protester. Blood splatters can be seen on the pavement

In this photo a stabbing victim receives first aid from an Anaheim Police Officer after a small group of Ku Klux Klan members staging an anti-immigrant rally clashed with a larger gathering of counter-protesters, police said

The event quickly escalated into violence and at least two people had to be treated at the scene for stab wounds after a Klansman drew a knife in the altercation

Police are now trying to identify a suspect who is wanted for suspicion of assault with force likely to cause great bodily injury.

'Even if the vast majority of our community disagrees with a particular group who visits our city we cannot stop them from lawfully gathering to express their opinions,' Police Chief Raul Quezada said in a release.

'Violence is not acceptable, and we will arrest anybody who assaults another person or commits any other crime in our city.'

Anaheim Police said they were aware of both the planned KKK protest as well as the counter protest on Saturday.

Among the eight in custody, which includes a juvenile, suspect Charles Edward Donner, 51, of San Francisco was arrested on assault with a deadly weapon and has been identified as the Klan member who who is accused of stabbing a counter-protester with a flagpole, according to police.

The other suspects taken into custody include Nicole Rae Schop, 24, of Los Angeles booked on an elder abuse charge; Marquis DeShawn Turner, 20, of Anaheim charged with assault with a deadly weapon; Randy Omarcc Felder, 25, of Lakewood charged with assault with a deadly weapon; Mark Anthony Liddell, 26, of Los Angeles charged with elder abuse; Guy Harris, 19, charged with assault with a deadly weapon; and Hugo Contreras, 38, resident of Hawthorne charged with elder abuse. An eight person in custody is a juvenile who has not been identified, police said.

At one point during Saturday's scuffle, the Klan leader was apparently saved by a Jewish man who attended the rally as an observer and who pushed the Klansman away from the crowd as the violence escalated.

Above a counter-protester appears to be ripping off the Confederate flag from the shirt of one of the Klansmen. Several counter-protesters were taken into custody after stomping a KKK member on the ground, police said

A counter-protester is pictured left as he appears to attack a Klansman. Anaheim police released a picture of the suspect, pictured right, who is wanted for suspicion of assault with force likely to cause great bodily injury

Twelve people were arrested following the melee, including one Klan member who is accused of stabbing a counter-protester with a flagpole, Anaheim Police Sergeant Daron Wyatt said

Five members of the KKK group, four men and one woman, were arrested on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon in connection to the stabbings

Brian Levin, director of California State University, San Bernardino's Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism said he asked the Klansman: 'How does it feel that your life was just saved by a Jewish man?' The man replied 'thank you,' according to Levin.

Three people were wounded in the ensuing confrontation, noting the most seriously wounded of the victims was stabbed with a flag pole that had an American eagle finial on at the top.

That person was taken to a local hospital's trauma center, where he was listed in critical condition.

Other victims, who are all believed to be counter-protesters, were stabbed or cut with a knife, according to Wyatt.

He said the altercation took place as soon as several Klan members arrived at Pearson Park in Anaheim, about 35 miles southeast of Los Angeles, for a planned rally there.

Several witnesses said a peaceful counter-protest had been under way for about three hours in the park a mile north of Disneyland when the Klansmen arrived in a black sport utility vehicle.

The SUV pulled up and three men got out and began to unload signs when the group of about 30 counter-protesters ran over, yelling and throwing sticks, witnesses said.

Counter protesters are shown above as they taunt an injured Klansman. The event quickly escalated into violence and three people were arrested following the melee

Five members of the KKK group, four men and one woman, were arrested on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon in connection to the stabbings. Four of them have since be released after video surfaced showing they were clearly attacked

A bloody scene from the violent clash is shown above. Seven counter-protesters, six men and one woman, were arrested on suspicion of assault with force likely to cause great bodily injury as authorities said they stomped on two Klan members on the ground

Counter-protesters are shown above as they chase a fleeing SUV reportedly driven by a KKK member. A witness said the angry mob of counter-protesters chased the Klansmen down the block, yelling 'Get out of here! You're not welcome!'

'Three people were stabbed by the fire hydrant,' said Darren Simpson, 49. 'These Klan guys were fighting for their lives.'

As violence continued to erupt, some of the protesters were seen kicking a man wearing a shirt that read 'Grand Dragon', before one of the counter-protesters was seen collapsing on the ground, bleeding. He was crying that he had been stabbed.

A Klansman who was handcuffed told a police officer that he 'stabbed him in self defense,' according to the Los Angeles Times.

Chris Barker, who identified himself as the 'imperial wizard' of the Loyal White Knights of the KKK, said his members were defending themselves during a peaceful anti-immigration demonstration when violence broke out.

He added: 'If we're attacked we will attack back.'

Witness Kobe Sato, 18, told the Times that a crowd surrounded the Klan members when they showed up at the park and started displaying Confederate flags.

Levin said he was next to the man in the Grand Dragon shirt when protesters attacked the Klansmen carrying weapons.

'As soon as they got out of their vehicle, immediately they were attacked by counter-protesters and this caused a melee down the block,' Wyatt said.

The Klan members attempted to get back into the car as it sped off, leaving them behind, said Dion Garcia, 37.

Police officers are seen as they gather at the scene of the clash near Pearson Park in Anaheim. Police said they were aware of both the planned KKK protest as well as the counter protest on Saturday

A KKK member is shown above as he appears to be in handcuffs following the violent clash

Counter protesters hold signs near the planned KKK rally including one that reads 'Fight back against KKK'

A stabbing victim is pictured above as he talks with police. Police said three people were wounded in the ensuing confrontation, noting the most seriously wounded of the victims was stabbed with a flag pole

He said the angry mob chased the Klansmen down the block, yelling 'Get out of here! You're not welcome!'

'It was crazy,' he said, adding: 'A lot of us were trying to break it up. This was not necessary, they should've just let the Klan protest. This is America, we have free speech.'

During the brawl, one of the Klansmen was knocked to the ground and kicked, according to Levin. His arm was later seen bleeding.

Levin, who said he feared the Klansmen would be stomped to death, said he helped to Klansmen get away from the violent crowd.

'I helped two Klansmen get out of the way,' he said as he headed to the police station to give his witness statement.

'I told the crowd: 'Dr (Martin Luther) King wouldn't approve of this, please don't harm these men.''

Levin noted prior to the brawl he saw no uniformed police at the park.

Anaheim police had notified the public about the planned KKK protest Friday and said they would be 'monitoring the situation for any violations of law.'

The department also said that while the group's signs and fliers might be controversial, they are protected by the First Amendment.

Members of the Klu Klux Klan involved in the stabbing sit on the curb behind a police cruiser following the brawl. Police noted other victims were stabbed or cut with a knife

Sgt. Daron Wyatt said police were present when violence erupted.

The Klan, known for their white robes and peaked hoods often worn by its members, has a long history of violence toward African-Americans, Jews and other groups, according the Southern Poverty Law Center, which tracks hate groups in the United States.

The Klan was founded after the abolition of slavery in the U.S. South in the mid-19th century and has evolved in recent years into a collection of loosely affiliated or independent groups that share a political philosophy based on racial separation.

The Southern Poverty Law Center estimated the group has between 5,000 and 8,000 members across the country, according to the Times.

The KKK has a long history in Southern California, with Klansmen holding elected office in Anaheim in the 1920s.

Most recently the KKK made national headlines when a former KKK leader, David Duke, said he backed Donald Trump for the Republican presidential nomination.