Opponents both militant and mellow confront Berkeley right-wing marchers

On one side was a protester with grandparents who survived Nazi Germany. On the other side was a man with a banner supporting President Trump wrapped around his shoulders.

They were among the thousands who showed up in downtown Berkeley on Sunday to holler, wave signs and walk around in circles — at least until scores of masked anarchists flooded the scene and attacked the badly outnumbered people who had come for a right-wing “No to Marxism in Berkeley” rally at Martin Luther King Jr. Civic Center Park.

Theo Sher, 25, of Oakland, who held a white sheet that said “Resist Like it’s 1933,” said his relatives did nothing to resist Adolf Hitler’s rise to power when they lived in Germany in the 1930s.

Lynne Kalmar helps hold up a large "RESIST" banner on Oxford Street during a counter protest to a planned then cancelled anti-Marxism rally in Berkeley, Calif. on Sunday, August 27, 2017. Lynne Kalmar helps hold up a large "RESIST" banner on Oxford Street during a counter protest to a planned then cancelled anti-Marxism rally in Berkeley, Calif. on Sunday, August 27, 2017. Photo: Scott Strazzante, The Chronicle Buy photo Photo: Scott Strazzante, The Chronicle Image 1 of / 109 Caption Close Opponents both militant and mellow confront Berkeley right-wing marchers 1 / 109 Back to Gallery

“You have to live and learn,” he said. “It’s hard to know what to do. You don’t want to promote intolerance, but you have to show you are against intolerance.”

Annika Freeling, a 15-year-old sophomore at Berkeley High, which is across the street from the park, carried a sign that said “Hate is not patriotic” and explained she came because it was the right thing to do and the right place to be.

“We’re living in a historical time,” she said, “and I didn’t want people to think we didn’t do anything.”

Arthur Schaper came from Torrance in Los Angeles County. Around his shoulders was a white Trump banner. In his hands were business cards bearing the U.S. flag that he was handing out, so everyone would know who he is.

“All I want is for liberals and Trump supporters to show up and talk today,” he said. This state is a beautiful state. We just have bad people running it. We need to expose that hatred in the left.”

Allison Banks, 49, of Berkeley called herself an activist. She said that at present she is an unemployed activist, having quit her job in March to attend protests. She held a yellow poster board reading, “Peaceful warrior here to smash white supremacy.”

“There is a lot more at stake now than there ever has been before,” she said. “I try to get my political opinion out there. ... I truly believe we as a human race want unity and peace.”

Jordan Davis, 25, walked around with a blue Trump banner around his shoulders. He said violence is a “risk you have to be willing to take to attend these rallies.”

“What’s more important is to dispel the myth that it’s all KKK here,” he said. “Obviously I am not a Klansman. They’re trying to lump Trump supporters in with a group that is pretty much nonexistent. We are hopeful for an open, obvious dialogue.”

Davis posed for a few photos. Then he looked around to make sure no one was watching and ripped down a sign that said “Bay Area Stands Against Hate,” and tore it up.

It was difficult to figure out exactly who came out Sunday to join the anarchists — often referred to as antifa, or antifascists — because they wore all black, hid their faces and at times attacked reporters who were trying to document their actions.

Lizzie Johnson, Michael Cabanatuan and Steve Rubenstein are San Francisco Chronicle staff writers. Email: ljohnson@sfchronicle.com, mcabanatuan@sfchronicle.com, srubenstein@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @LizzieJohnsonnn, @ctuan, @SteveRubeSF