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Protesters during the April 15 rally

The 2017 Berkeley protests (also referred to as the Battle of Berkeley) refer to a series of violent protests and clashes between organized groups that occurred in the city of Berkeley, California in the vicinity of the University of California campus. Violence has occurred predominantly between anti-Trump protesters, some of whom were anarchists, anti-fascists,[1][2] and other far-left radicals; and supporters of Donald Trump, alt-right and Neo-Nazis.

The first event occurred on February 1, when Trump supporter Milo Yiannopoulos was scheduled to give a speech at the university. Two later incidents on March 4 and April 15, were pro-Trump rallies met by counter-protesters. Another rally occurred on April 27, hosted by Kyle Chapman, Brittany Pettibone, Lauren Southern, and others at Martin Luther King Jr. Civic Center Park. This was scheduled after a planned speech by Ann Coulter was cancelled.

Timeline

February 1

On February 1, Milo Yiannopoulos was scheduled to make a speech at the University of California, Berkeley at 8:00 pm. Prior, more than 100 UC Berkeley faculty signed a petition urging the university to cancel the event.[3]

Over 1,500 people gathered on the steps of Sproul Hall to protest the event. The university said in a statement that the protest had been non-violent until it was interrupted by a group of around 150 people who they believe came from outside of the campus.[4][3] The interrupting protesters, which included Antifa activists and some who identified themselves as members of the left-wing group By Any Means Necessary,[5][6] set fires, damaged property, threw fireworks, attacked members of the crowd, and threw rocks at the police.[3] Within twenty minutes of the start of the violence, the Yiannopolous event was officially canceled by the university police department due to security concerns, and protesters were ordered to disperse.[4][7] The protests continued for several hours afterwards, with some protesters moving into downtown Berkeley.[6] Among those assaulted were a Syrian Muslim who was pepper sprayed and hit with a rod by a protester who said "You look like a Nazi",[8] and Kiara Robles, who was pepper sprayed while being interviewed by a TV reporter.[9] One person was arrested for failure to disperse, and there was an estimated $100,000 in damage.[10]

March 4

See also: March 4 Trump

A pro-Donald Trump march in Berkeley on March 4 billed as "March 4 [sic] Trump" resulted in seven injuries and ten arrests after confrontations with counter-protesters. Police confiscated several weapons from attendees of the rally, including baseball bats, bricks, metal pipes, pieces of lumber, and a dagger.[11][12]

April 15

On April 15, several groups, including approximately 50 members of the right-wing Oath Keepers, held a pro-Trump rally and were met by counter-protesters, including Antifa activists.[13][5]Planned speakers included Brittany Pettibone and Lauren Southern.[14] The event was organized as a free speech rally by Rich Black, who also organized the March 4 Trump event.[15][16]

At Martin Luther King Jr. Civic Center Park a "large number of fights" broke out, smoke bombs and fireworks were thrown into the melee, and pepper spray was used in the crowd.[17][18] According to the Los Angeles Times, "Both groups threw rocks and sticks at each other and used a large trash bin as a battering ram as the crowd moved around the perimeter of the park."[17] Eleven people were injured, six of whom were hospitalized, including one person who was stabbed.[17] Police "seized a handful of cans of peppers [sic] spray, some knives, and dozens of sign and flag poles, skateboards, and other blunt objects" from members of the crowd.[18]

A Reuters reporter estimated that between 500 and 1,000 people were in the park at the peak of the rally.[19] Various far-right activists in the crowd held up antisemitic signs,[20][21] and some made Nazi salutes and used other neo-Nazi symbolism.[22][18]

During the event, Nathan Damigo—a 30-year-old California State University, Stanislaus student and the founder of the white supremacist group Identity Evropa—punched a woman in the face and then ran into the crowd. The attack was captured on video and prompted calls for Damigo's arrest or expulsion.[23][24] Cal State Stanislaus stated that that they would investigate Damigo.[24]

Also during the event a former Diablo Valley College professor allegedly attacked three protestors with a bike lock, hitting them on the head and causing "significant injuries". He was subsequently arrested on three counts of assault with a deadly weapon.[25]

April 27

On April 18, 2017 administrators at UC Berkeley canceled a planned April 27 appearance on the campus by conservative columnist Ann Coulter, citing safety concerns. Coulter tweeted on April 19 that she would be coming to Berkeley to speak on that date regardless.[26][27] On April 20, the University stated that they would host Coulter on May 2 at a "protected venue" that would be disclosed at a later date.[28] Coulter declined to reschedule, noting that she was unavailable on May 2 and that UC Berkeley had no classes scheduled for that week, and said she would hold her speech on April 27 with or without the university's consent. She later said that she did not intend to speak, but said she might attend the April 27 event.[29][30] Alt-right activist Brittany Pettibone delivered remarks promising that conservatives will refuse to stand down, which was met with applause from the crowd. Vice co-founder Gavin McInnes read Ann Coulter's planned speech at the event.[31] Other speakers at the rally included Lauren Southern, a conservative-libertarian writer.[32][33][34][35] There was concern the gathering would turn violent based on "social media feeds of militant left-wing and right-wing activists abuzz with plans to proceed with demonstrations and counter-demonstrations over the Coulter-Berkeley controversy."[36]

The International Socialist Organization organized an "Alt-Right Delete" rally at Sproul Plaza. About 150 people attended the rally and 70 police officers monitored the situation.[31] Several hundred attended a "Freedom of Speech" rally at the Martin Luther King Jr. Civic Center Park in Berkeley. The demonstrations were relatively peaceful; however, there was some tension as five were arrested, one for a weapons violation and another for drug possession.[37]

Aftermath

Following the February 1 protest, a lawyer representing a local police union criticized the police administration for their "hands off" policy which prevented officers from preventing crime or making arrests. A police representative responded that they did not want to further escalate violence, and that the campus police were inexperienced in dealing with black bloc tactics.[38] According to Berkeley Police chief Margo Bennett, they were waiting for reinforcements to come from Oakland Police and the Alameda County Sheriff before dispersing the crowds.[39]

Following the February events, President Trump criticized UC Berkeley on Twitter, asserting that it "does not allow free speech" and threatening to de-fund the university.[40][41] After the incident, Yiannopoulos' upcoming book, Dangerous, returned to number one for a few days on Amazon's "Best Sellers" list.[42] According to Yiannopoulos' Facebook post, he plans to return to Berkeley "hopefully within the next few months".[43]

After the April events, several news organizations noted that the fighting demonstrated an increasing use of violence between members of both the far-right and the far-left.[22]

On June 6, 2017, Larry Klayman filed a lawsuit on the behalf of Robles, who alleges the university and others violated her First Amendment rights when she was attacked with pepper spray while being interviewed.[44][45][46][47] In July 2017, Robles voluntarily dismissed her lawsuit.[48]

References

  1. ^ "Woman Punched During Berkeley Protest Describes Melee". Retrieved May 6, 2017.
  2. ^ "Heavy Police Presence Keeps Berkeley Coulter Protests Peaceful". Retrieved May 6, 2017.
  3. ^ a b c Fuller, Thomas (February 2, 2017). "A Free Speech Battle at the Birthplace of a Movement at Berkeley". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved April 27, 2017. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
  4. ^ a b "Milo Yiannopoulos event canceled after violence erupts". UC Berkeley News. February 1, 2017. Retrieved February 2, 2017. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
  5. ^ a b "Behind Berkeley's Semester of Hate". New York Times. August 4, 2017. Retrieved August 7, 2017.
  6. ^ a b David, Carlo; Dinkelspiel, Frances (February 2, 2017). "Chaos erupts, protesters shut down Yiannopolous events, banks in downtown vandalized". Berkeleyside. Retrieved April 27, 2017. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
  7. ^ Mele, Christopher (February 1, 2017). "Berkeley Cancels Milo Yiannopoulos Speech, and Donald Trump Tweets Outrage". The New York Times. Retrieved February 2, 2017.
  8. ^ Ramaiyer, Malini (February 2, 2017). "How Violence Undermined the Berkeley Protest". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved April 27, 2017. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
  9. ^ "Woman pepper sprayed by Berkeley protester". Fox News 5 NY. Retrieved April 27, 2017. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
  10. ^ Bodley, Michael (February 2, 2017). "At Berkeley Yiannopoulos protest, $100,000 in damage, 1 arrest". SFGate. Retrieved February 3, 2017.
  11. ^ Wang, Amy B. "Pro-Trump rally in Berkeley turns violent as protesters clash with the president's supporters". The Washington Post. Retrieved April 15, 2017.
  12. ^ Barmann, Jay (March 5, 2017). "Pro-Trump Rally In Berkeley Turns Predictably Messy, 10 Arrested". SFist. Retrieved March 10, 2017. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
  13. ^ St. John, Paige; Grad, Shelby (April 16, 2017). "How Berkeley became epicenter of violent Trump clashes". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved April 17, 2017.
  14. ^ Dizikes, Cynthia (April 16, 2017). "Arrests made as protesters clash at pro-Trump rally in Berkeley". SFGate. Retrieved April 27, 2017. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
  15. ^ "Free Speech Rally in Berkeley results in several injuries, 20 arrests". The Daily Californian. April 15, 2017. Retrieved April 20, 2017. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
  16. ^ Ellis, Ralph; Marco, Tony (April 16, 2017). "Trump supporters, opponents clash in Berkeley". CNN. Retrieved April 17, 2017. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
  17. ^ a b c St. John, Paige (April 15, 2017). "Hundreds of Trump supporters and counter-protesters clash at Berkeley rally". Los Angeles Times.
  18. ^ a b c Sciacca, Annie; Lochner, Tom; Lochner, Nate; Treadway, Chris (April 16, 2017). "20 arrested, 11 injured in Trump-related rallies in downtown Berkeley". Mercury News. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
  19. ^ Randewich, Noah (April 16, 2017). "Trump supporters, opponents clash in California park". Reuters. Retrieved April 15, 2017. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
  20. ^ Yuhas, Alan; Gambino, Lauren (April 15, 2017). "Arrests at violent Berkeley Trump protests while tax marches stay calm". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved April 17, 2017. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
  21. ^ David Neiwert (April 17, 2017). "Far Right Descends on Berkeley For 'Free Speech' and Planned Violence". Hatewatch. Southern Poverty Law Center.
  22. ^ a b Lennard, Natasha (April 15, 2017). "The Violent Clashes In Berkeley Weren't 'Pro-Trump' Versus 'Anti-Trump'". Esquire. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
  23. ^ Sheffield, Matthew. "Trolling for a race war: Neo-Nazis are trying to bait leftist "antifa" activists into violence — and radicalize white people". Salon. Retrieved May 27, 2017.
  24. ^ a b Branson-Potts, Hailey (April 17, 2017). "Cal State Stanislaus to investigate white supremacist student who punched woman in Berkeley melee". Los Angeles Times. ISSN 0458-3035. Retrieved April 17, 2017. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
  25. ^ Kelly, George (May 24, 2017). "Bay Area college professor used U-shaped bike lock in beating, police say". The Mercury News. Retrieved May 26, 2017.
  26. ^ Asimov, Nanette (April 19, 2017). "UC Berkeley orders cancellation of Ann Coulter speech". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved April 19, 2017.
  27. ^ "Ann Coulter appearance canceled over security concerns at UC Berkeley". The Guardian. April 19, 2017. Retrieved April 19, 2017.
  28. ^ Yuhas, Alan (April 20, 2017). "Ann Coulter event is back on after UC Berkeley finds 'protected venue'". The Guardian. Retrieved April 20, 2017.
  29. ^ Asimov, Nanette (April 20, 2017). "Ann Coulter rejects Cal offer to switch date of speech". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved April 20, 2017.
  30. ^ </https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/grade-point/wp/2017/04/27/theres-no-speech-planned-but-protesters-are-converging-on-berkeley-today
  31. ^ a b McLaughlin, Eliott C.; Yan, Holly; Hassan, Carma. "Berkeley protests: No Ann Coulter, but demonstrators gather". CNN. Retrieved April 28, 2017.
  32. ^ "Coulter blames UC Berkeley for cancellation of her talk". Berkeleyside. April 26, 2017. Retrieved April 27, 2017. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
  33. ^ Taylor, Tracey (April 26, 2017). "Mayor forced on the defensive as city becomes ground zero for extremists". Berkeleyside. Retrieved April 27, 2017. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
  34. ^ Svrluga, Susan; Wan, William; Dwoskin, Elizabeth (April 26, 2017). "Ann Coulter speech at UC Berkeley canceled, again, amid fears for safety". Washington Post. Retrieved April 27, 2017. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
  35. ^ Bauer-Wolf, Jeremy (April 26, 2017). "Ann Coulter will back out of Berkeley talk". Inside Higher Ed. Retrieved April 27, 2017. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
  36. ^ "UC Berkeley is still bracing for the worst after Ann Coulter canceled a contentious speech". Business Insider. Retrieved April 27, 2017.
  37. ^ Svrluga, Susan; Wan, William; Dwoskin, Elizabeth (April 27, 2017). "There's no Ann Coulter speech planned. But protesters converged on Berkeley". The Washington Post. Retrieved April 28, 2017.
  38. ^ The Associated Press (February 7, 2017). "Berkeley Police Criticized For 'Hands-Off' Approach To Violent Demonstrators". Retrieved April 27, 2017. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
  39. ^ Anthony, Laura (February 3, 2017). "Police criticized for lack of action during Berkeley protests". ABC7 San Francisco. Retrieved April 27, 2017. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
  40. ^ Savransky, Rebecca (February 2, 2017). "Trump threatens funding cut if UC Berkeley 'does not allow free speech'". TheHill. Retrieved February 2, 2017.
  41. ^ Rahim, Zamira (February 2, 2017). "Trump Threatens to Yank U.C. Berkeley's Federal Funding Over Protests Against Milo Yiannopoulos". Time. Retrieved February 2, 2017. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
  42. ^ Fallon, Claire (February 3, 2017). "Milo Yiannopoulos' Upcoming Book Grabs Top Spot On Amazon's Best-Seller List". The Huffington Post. Retrieved February 5, 2017. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
  43. ^ Sciacca, Annie (February 4, 2017). "Milo Yiannopoulos plans to return to Berkeley". Mercury News. Retrieved February 12, 2017. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
  44. ^ Cherelus, Gina (June 6, 2017). "Woman pepper-sprayed at UC Berkeley protest sues university, police". Rueters.
  45. ^ "Milo Yiannopoulos fan files lawsuit against Berkeley". Associated Press. June 7, 2017. Retrieved June 7, 2017.
  46. ^ Kenneally, Tim (June 6, 2017). "Milo Yiannopoulos Supporter Sues Berkeley for $23 Million". SFGate. Retrieved June 7, 2017.
  47. ^ McLevy, Alex (June 7, 2017). "Milo Yiannopoulos fan files lawsuit against Berkeley, George Soros, common sense". Retrieved June 7, 2017.
  48. ^ Iovino, Nicholas (July 26, 2017). "Woman Drops $23 Million Suit Over UC Berkeley Protest". Courthouse News Service.
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