Journalist amid Antifa Berkeley Riots: “Police have completely disappeared … People getting beaten up”
“No Trump, no Wall, no USA at all”
Hundreds of black-clad masked Antifa rioters descended on a park in Berkeley, California, after a “No to Marxism” rally was canceled.
A few people showed up anyway, and were viciously beaten and attacked.
Mainstream media journalists caught in the middle described the Antifa rioters arriving in battle formation armed with shields (which were specifically prohibited under published police rules) and the police appearing to stand down. Journalists who were filming were repeatedly attacked by Antifa.
The San Francisco Chronicle has a timeline of the riots. Here are a couple of the key timeline entries:
1:20 p.m. Tensions rising: Far-left demonstrators wearing black masks and body armor have joined the crowds gathered at Civic Center Park.
Tensions at the park have been on the rise as police in riot gear abandoned their post along a concrete barricade within the park separating the right-wing demonstrators and the counter protesters.
Police are now surrounding the perimeter of the park to deal with masses of counterprotesters who are trying to get in.
1:35 p.m. Hundreds break through: Berkeley police in riot gear stepped aside as hundreds of counterprotesters jumped the barriers around Civic Center park and flooded the place. All very peaceful. One protester said that was “too easy.” Fighting broke out and pepper-spray and tear gas filled the air as hundreds of men and women clad in black moved through the park.
Chronicle reporter Lizzie Johnson, who was on scene, tweeted what she experienced and saw, including: “The #Berkeley police have stood down. A sea of black masks as far as I can see. This is what WAS NOT supposed to happen.”
I have never seen so many members of #antifa in one place. No signs of police in the fray. "Our park!" they are chanting. #berkeley pic.twitter.com/htb4OL2Oz1
— Lizzie Johnson (@lizziejohnsonnn) August 27, 2017
Sooo this is where we are at. #berkeley pic.twitter.com/MD9w8liFaJ
— Lizzie Johnson (@lizziejohnsonnn) August 27, 2017
The #Berkeley police have stood down. A sea of black masks as far as I can see. This is what WAS NOT supposed to happen. pic.twitter.com/uqsFJqPqd7
— Lizzie Johnson (@lizziejohnsonnn) August 27, 2017
"Take his camera, take his phone," they are shouting at a journalist. #berkeley pic.twitter.com/hvsQ5eXalE
— Lizzie Johnson (@lizziejohnsonnn) August 27, 2017
Police have completely disappeared from #Berkeley. People getting beaten up. Red flags being waved in the air.
— Lizzie Johnson (@lizziejohnsonnn) August 27, 2017
Police in #Berkeley have retreated to the station and the northern streets at Civic Center Park.
— Lizzie Johnson (@lizziejohnsonnn) August 27, 2017
Video posted on YouTube also shows the rioters hunting people on surrounding streets:
https://youtu.be/D4dtQJPnQ_I
(The Man in red in the video below was a reporter who tried to shield someone being attacked.)
An LA Times reporter on scene reported how Antifa seemed to move with precision, and how anyone who dissented was being accused of being a Nazi
There is a complete mob mentality here. People are randomly accusing random people of being Nazis.
— James Queally (@JamesQueallyLAT) August 27, 2017
Masked protesters, claiming to be Antifa, threatening to break reporters cameras if they film them. Reminder we are on public ground.
— James Queally (@JamesQueallyLAT) August 27, 2017
Organizers now asking to see my press pass as I try and interview someone being falsely accused of being a Nazi.
— James Queally (@JamesQueallyLAT) August 27, 2017
Other local reporters on the scene tweeted similar images, video and information about Antifa violence:
The black bloc are here assembled with shields outside mlk park pic.twitter.com/7oI5vV6yHK
— Marcus Yam 文火 (@yamphoto) August 27, 2017
https://twitter.com/EsemicolonR/status/901917394838441984
#BREAKING: #ANTIFA Arrives as one solid black bloc. Armed w/ shields, under banner, clad in usual. Police equip masks. #berkely @NBCNews pic.twitter.com/otbQIyBF8o
— Steve Patterson (@PattersonNBC) August 27, 2017
Crowd extremely volatile. Police scattered. #ANTIFA everywhere. Scuffles all over. Police in masks, fingers on triggers. #berkeley @NBCNews pic.twitter.com/vUiy6Whzsa
— Steve Patterson (@PattersonNBC) August 27, 2017
Someone dives on top of another guy being beaten by Antifa, begging them to stop, fleeing behind police lines. Intra-left blows exchanged. pic.twitter.com/bz2zFEB25j
— Jack Smith IV (@JackSmithIV) August 27, 2017
https://twitter.com/LeighMartinezTV/status/901897070092574721
Initially, few national reporters were covering this story or retweeting, though in the past hour I have seen more Twitter action including from people like Jake Tapper.
Interesting how few "journalists" are tweeting or reporting on Antifa attack on journalist https://t.co/Hf3KTajipW
— Legal Insurrection (@LegInsurrection) August 27, 2017
[Featured Image: Twitter video via Jack Smith]
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Comments
No hate, no hate. We beat the living crap out of you but it’s because you deserve it, not because we’re hateful.
How many books could Orwell have gotten from these beasts?
Oh come on, John McCain told me these guys were just great, and that Trump was way out of line to criticize them.
As far as McCain is concerned, they ARE great. After all, they are on the same side.
It’d be nice to think the media would not only report this but make Democrats own the behavior of their people. Even though that won’t occur there is one good thing for those of us not on the left coast, winter is coming and the cold will drive them back to the basement.
Lawsuit, lawsuit, lawsuit.
Nothing quite works like it.
Btw: America now has ‘no-go’ zones. The feds – and the Guard, if necessary – need to come in like they did when desegregating the South.
They will claim sovereign immunity and cite the Supreme Court decision that absolves police from the requirement that they enforce the law or protect citizens. And at first, at least, it will be in California courts, and when it goes Federal in the 9th Circus.
So much for calling Berkeley PD either peace officers or law enforcement officers. The citizens must defend themselves apparently.
The thugs will continue to escalate until they are stopped.
But, it is nearly impossible to get a carry permit in CA.
Alameda County, yes; but there are other counties in the state that are far more lax with their CCW permit issuance.
If the free speech/Trump supporters respond with equal violence I am certain we will see police spring into acton.
Why the shock that they accuse random people of being Nazis? When you do that, the people terrified of being accused of being Nazis have to try three times as hard to prove that they’re not Nazis. I don’t believe this is the first time such tricks have been employed.
Soros funds Barry’s Antifa so he knows good and well what to do this time.
All that black and red. It takes a Nazi to know the official colors of the Third Reich.
It keep happening because Democrat officials refuse to enforce the law against antifa.
Maybe the National Guard should do it for them.
I agree.
However, the problem is that you expect the proggie governor who rates the nickname “MoonBeam” to send in the guard?
Then let the President do it.
These thugs are just itching for another Kent State.
It sounds to me like they need a Kent State response, but on a grander scale.
My – those Anti fas sure are real tough guys when confronting unarmed peaceful protestors.
Oh, so we’re supposed to be happy that people that have national tv shows are instead “covering” this on Twitter…?
When does the shooting part start?
Jut like Germany in the 1930s. Deja vu, all over again.
Here is how this all works. Step one is to withdraw all support from law enforcement to use any kind of force to enforce the law or protect themselves and other people. Then encourage LEOs,who feel that they should do exactly that, to leave the force. When the black sirts show up, withdraw all police personnel. And, if any officer should mention that he feels that the black shirted thugs got what they deserved, fire him.
There is nothing new or surprising here. This is an orchestrated attack on the people and the government of this nation, using 80 year old tactics. And, if the governments will not protect the people of this country, then sooner or later, the people will take it upon themselves to provide their own protection.
Unless the governments actually attempt to stop the black shirts, then, unlike Germany in the 1930s, this country will be engaged in a civil war.
It’s getting closer. Get ready.
The people of Berkley provide their own protection? thx. I needed to end the weekend with a laugh.
There was an article on Yahoo News this evening of a man who discharged a pistol at another man who was discharging an improvised flamethrower at a group of right-wing protestors on a stairway in Charlottesville. The man with the flamethrower was not charged. The man with the pistol was charged, later. But, he was not charged with aggravated assault or attempted homicide. No, he was charged with discharging a firearm within 1000 feet of a school. This is a totally bogus charge, as discharging the weapon in self defense or defense of another, when there is a significant likelihood that failure to do so will result in death or great bodily harm, i.e. necessary self defense, is a recognized defense. And, considering photographs exist of the man who was shot at discharging the flamethrower when the shot was fired, it is going to be almost impossible for the prosecution to prove that self defense did not exist. The cops know this, or they would have charged him with agg assault, at least. This is nothing more than a show arrest and a political attempt to gin up anti-gun feelings.
As to the people of Berkley providing their own defense, why not? If they will show up at a patriot rally, they can certainly arm themselves. People in Chicago do it all the time and it is still practically illegal there.
People are already starting to arm themselves against attack by the black-shirt “anarchists”. It is only a matter of time before deadly violence erupts at one of these things. Of course, the media will blame it on everyone BUT the black-shirts. Maybe even on the right-wing squirrel population in the park.
I wish I shared your optimism.
In my experience, the typical White Middle Class Person – having always had a relatively easy-going life (comparatively speaking) is not likely to band together with others of their peers and go on some kind of Violence Spree to right the wrongs that are being perpetrated upon them.
I think it would be justified if they did but I don’t see it happening.
My experience on ship in the Navy during VietNam convinced me that when brawls turn Tribal most White Guys just want to get out of the way.
IMO
Really? What do you think the resurrection of White Nationalist and White Supremacist groups is? It is the beginning of the banding together of a racial component of this country which is now being actively victimized. This is perceived self defense. If the threat continues, and most especially if it continues to grow, white Americans will become increasingly discouraged with the lack of action by their elected government to provide for their safety. Sooner or later a tipping point is reached and the “government” dissolves and tribalism rules. And, that point is rapidly approaching. This is not a good thing. The vast majority of people want to live in a stable society. If their elected government does not provide that, then that government will fall. That is the historical trend.
Stop paying the salaries of the police , clearly they are not doing their job
But maybe they were doing their job. I’ve read that in other such situations, the police were ordered to stand down.
I’m offended by Leigh Martinez’s subject/verb/object agreement.
A woman attacked my photographer and I ✖︎
A woman attacked my photographer ✓
A woman attacked I ✖︎
A woman attacked me ✓
A woman attacked my photographer and me ✓
English. It’s really tricky sometimes innit. Tricky as all those other fer’ner languages.
if any of these thugs are on FEDERAL Property send in the National Guard or federalize the NG and send them in – or the ARMY!
It doesn’t matter whose property they’re on. If the local authorities are refusing to protect people exercising their civil rights then the president has the authority and the duty to send in the National Guard to do it.
Maybe not. When the Guard operates as an arm of the State, under the direction of the Governor, they have the power to enforce state law. Once they are nationalized, activated and assigned to the command of the DOJ, which they would have to be if they are being directed by the President, then they face the same restrictions as the active military.
Now active duty military units have been used in peacekeeping roles within the US. However, these actions, while deemed necessary at the time, were of questionable legality. In order to be legal, martial law would have to be declared.
Correction: that should read the DOD, not DOJ. My bad.
Mac
Little Rock, 23-Sep-1957. There was no martial law; there couldn’t be, because the civilian courts were functioning just fine. But the president had no problem charging the National Guard with protecting civil liberties that state authorities refused to protect.
‘A’narchists serve the leftist cause: progressive authority.
If the Berkley LEOs can’t or won’t do the job, it’s time for the sheriff to move in. Then it’s time for the state police if they fail.
Lastly, the feds need to come to the fore. AntiFA needs to be broken. Good and hard.
Well, I’m pretty sure the Sheriff is of the same ilk as the Berkeley Police so that is probably a No Go.
State Police (and National Guard) are under the control of Governor Moonbeam so I don’t see them riding to the rescue anytime soon.
Feds can’t really do much because of the MSM, Random Liberal Judges and, finally, the Ninth Circus (plus the Deep State so that probably wouldn’t even get off the ground).
I do agree, though, that Antifa needs to be broken. Just don’t see a viable path for doing so at this time.
IMO
At what point will the DOJ decide that the antifa movement is a criminal conspiracy to deprive Americans of their free speech rights? The Civil Rights Division needs to institute a RICO investigation of the people behind the antifa movement. Or will AG Sessions recuse himself once again from his responsibilities?
I know it would never occur to those folks wearing black and red, but they’re actually acting as fund raisers for the Republican Party.
This is no different from the old days in the South when the cops used to stand aside for the KKK.
First thing, Sessions has to send the FBI in, to question policemen who stood down, under threat of charging them with violating the demonstrators’ civil rights by deliberately leaving them unprotected from the mob. Force them to name who gave them the order, and precisely what the order said. Then arrest whomever the cops name and force them to give up whoever gave them the order. Flip lower ranks to get higher ones, and charge everyone who didn’t get a deal.
Second, let the President announce that the next free speech or anti-Marxist or save-the-statues rally will be protected by the National Guard.
Sessions? He will recuse himself. He won’t get involved.
Milhouse, you said “This is no different from the old days in the South when the cops used to stand aside for the KKK.”
This is a point made by one of the contributors in Don Kates’s book “Restricting Handguns: The Liberal Skeptics Speak Out”. Highly recommended.
Thede people are absolutely nuts, shitting where they eat. Crissy Field is very popular with joggers, bicyclist and families looking to spend a day out in the sun, after it breaks through the fog that is, enjoying a picnic, flying kites or just kicking back.
story and pic for above
http://www.ktvu.com/news/276060492-story
Notice how the editors scrub the violence by calling the thugs “counter protesters” rather than rioters and thugs.
But the reporter Lizzie Johnson reports what she sees and it is not pretty. Her tweets will be silenced.
What if the Berkeley Fire Department abandoned a fire scene and when back to the comfort of their respective stations? Would anybody be asking WTF? Where are the LEO organizations? Why are they silently watching local law enforcement be destroyed?
The leftists will bring in the Stasi to restore order. The centralized control will ensure that it is THEIR order that rules. The feds came in to stop the KKK and Democrat politicians in the South. They partially left the scene. This time they would stay. We want the local and state police to do their jobs. Didn’t the Baltimore dems ask for federal help? Why when they could fix the problem with local and state police?
While Texas was showing their heart, California was showing their ass.
So when does the season open?
I think the media’s brief love affair with these Antifa guys is about over.
Of course it would be great if the press started asking someone other than PDT to answer for the violence these masked “mostly peaceful protesters” bring with them wherever they go.
Overly optimistic and assuming facts without evidence. The beatings of “journalists” by Antifa will only make them suck up to Antifa more seeking their favor.
Finally, an end to hate. Thanks, Antifa.
People need to wise up and have these rallies outside a place like Berkeley where they have no cooperation from the local authorities. Make these people go to a city they don’t control and they would stick out. If these Antifa were in a Red area of even California the likelihood they would commit these crimes so far away from an Antifa safe zone would go down.
Anybody who has as much as watched Hogan’s Heroes would realize black on red were the identifying “flag” colors of the Third Reich. The symbol on the black on red antifa flag appears to bears more than a coincidental similarity to the Nazi sturmabteilung, the identifying symbol of the Brownshirts in 1930s Germany.
This is insanity. The Police Academy’s motto is “To protect and serve”. I guess in Berkeley they select who they will apply their creed to.
Having signs that have the f-word I them next to signs that say “no hate” is like f-ing for virginity. The new incoherent message from the left is never going to work to recapture the hope and change support for the left. They are going away from what made the left popular in 2009 and they have no Obama to put the calm fake smile and tone to candy coat the poison inside Socialism.
Free speech and Trump supporter rallies in California have done a good job of showing the illiberal violence condoned by Democrat politicians and journalists. This organized and condoned violence–strongly reminiscent of KKK violence condoned by Southern police departments many years ago–is doing more to drive people away from the leftists than anything else I have seen.
The so-called “Antifa” profess to repel “fascism”, by using the tactics and the “reasoning” of fascism, including the overt thuggery that appears to be intrinsic to the belief in this peculiar word: “”Everything within the state, nothing outside the state, nothing against the state.”, the doctrine advanced by Mussolini, and propagated as
Antifa thugs have now repeatedly demonstrated their determination to cause serious bodily harm, and eventually, they will cause a death. Persons who are confronted by Antifa thugs can therefore reasonably conclude that their physical well-being, even their life, is seriously threatened. Ultimately, in venues where it is lawful to bear arms, a lethal confrontation and outcome is inevitable, and if acted in self-defense, will be legally and morally justified.
And that’s when the feces will really impact the rotating machinery! Let us hope that the good guys win…