Berkeley denies permit for anti-Marxism rally

Some activists are trying to employ humor, such as wearing Groucho Marx masks, to protest the anti-Marxist event. Some activists are trying to employ humor, such as wearing Groucho Marx masks, to protest the anti-Marxist event. Photo: Michael Short, Special To The Chronicle Buy photo Photo: Michael Short, Special To The Chronicle Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close Berkeley denies permit for anti-Marxism rally 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

The organizers of the latest rally in Berkeley, billed by right-wing activists as a demonstration against Marxism, have been denied a permit by the city.

In a letter, Deputy City Manager Jovan Grogan told organizers of the event planned for Sunday in Civic Center Park — the home in recent months to a growing number of such demonstrations — that the “totality of circumstances” prevented Berkeley from being able to safely host the event.

Organizers did not immediately return requests for comment.

On social media Thursday, the far-right event, advertised online as a “No to Marxism” rally, showed no signs of stopping.

Police in Berkeley have given no indications that they will stand down, and similar past events have moved forward, regardless.

Though other skirmishes in Berkeley in recent months have seen bloodshed, as well as arrests, Mayor Jesse Arreguin has expressed a heightened level of concern for this weekend.

Arreguin has said that racists are not welcome in Berkeley, and the mayor has repeatedly urged people of all political persuasions to avoid the park Sunday.

In three responses to organizers seeking to host events at the park Sunday, Grogan wrote that the applications lacked a number of measures to ensure safety.

They included, Grogan said: a lack of proper security, failing to provide proper identification of organizers and turning in applications late.

Grogan also alluded to “national events” in explaining the denial.

Recently, a large gathering of white supremacists and neo-Nazis in Charlottesville, Va. — and the widespread condemnation of President Trump’s initial refusal to denounce them specifically — have ratcheted up racial tensions in the United States. A woman died in Charlottesville.

Organizers of the Berkeley rally have denied a racial motivation and have defended the need for the event.

Some have expressed loyalty to Trump, saying that the blue Bay Area is as good a place to stand up for their president — and for free speech — as any.

How to respond to the rally planned for Sunday has divided Bay Area activists, many of them left-leaning.

The loose collective known as antifa has pledged to meet those they call white supremacists in Berkeley, including violently, if they deem it necessary.

Others have advocated a more peaceful tack, saying they will use props and humor to try to keep the peace.

Michael Bodley is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: mbodley@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @michael_bodley