On Sunday, a protest carried out by “Antifa” at Berkeley and members of the “alt-right” became violent, and vandalism ensued.
A masked Antifa member “sucker-punched a detractor,” and other Antifa members smashed the windows at a recruiting office for the U.S. Marine Corps in Berkeley, California, Fox News reported.
Filmmaker Ford Fischer posted a series of photos to Twitter depicting the vandalism carried out by Antifa, along with a video showing the act.
Here is the video:
VIDEO: Antifa smashes the windows of Shattuck Ave US Marine Corps Recruiting office in #Berkeley #berkeleyprotests #Antifa pic.twitter.com/SZH5d97CjV
— Ford Fischer (@FordFischer) August 5, 2018
A photo was accompanied by the caption: “No police were around as the black bloc traveled down the street, and a handful used hammers to smash the windows of Shattuck Ave US Marine Corps Recruiting office,” Fischer wrote.
No police were around as the black bloc traveled down the street, and a handful used hammers to smash the windows of Shattuck Ave US Marine Corps Recruiting office. pic.twitter.com/YeBwEJvopV
— Ford Fischer (@FordFischer) August 5, 2018
In another post, Fischer said that after he filmed the act of vandalism, an Antifa member threw a lit torch into a dumpster, while another member confronted him.
“They basically told me to leave, implying attack if I didn’t. I left. ‘Get the f— back. Cops aren’t here. They won’t help you,’” Fischer wrote.
After I filmed the antifa break the Marine Corps office window and throw a torch into a dumpster, one of them called a few over to confront me. They basically told me to leave, implying attack if I didn’t. I left.
“Get the fuck back. Cops aren’t here. They won’t help you.” pic.twitter.com/7m8WkNmOy9
— Ford Fischer (@FordFischer) August 6, 2018
Three injuries were reported after a group of demonstrators hurled explosive items at law enforcement.
The items were presumed to be fireworks and flares, and no law enforcement personnel were injured in the attack. Law enforcement deployed “flash bang” grenades at feuding protesters.
A reported 20 people were arrested during a clash between Antifa and people reported to be affiliated with the “alt-right.”
Berkeley Police Arrest 20 During Protests https://t.co/1dtisBgVzf
— Berkeley Police (@berkeleypolice) August 6, 2018
Berkeley police said “an extremist element among a large group” inflicted damage to 21 city vehicles, including setting fire to one and slashing tires. Fires were also set in trash bins, which officials worked quickly to extinguish.
The events kicked off days earlier when one group announced a “No to Marxism” rally, followed by a “Sweep out the Fascists” march at the Civic Center Park in Berkeley, where Antifa and the alt-right clashed.
On Friday, police issued an announcement including rules that banned masks and various items from the park. The items included “sticks, pipes, poles, lengths of lumber or wood, baseball bats, bricks, pepper spray, knives and firearms,” according to KTVU.
Many of the banned items, which were assumed to be used as weapons, were confiscated by police.
We are confiscating weapons and making arrests. pic.twitter.com/YisxhW4FM0
— Berkeley Police (@berkeleypolice) August 5, 2018
Along with the announcement, police said: “These rules are intended to assist those wishing to peaceably express their First Amendment rights.”
