We’re wary of passing along media reports of violence at marches and rallies, considering that reporters have managed to mistake foam earplugs for rubber bullets in Ferguson and a small fire extinguisher for pepper spray outside the Republican National Convention.
However, the Los Angeles Times is repeating what witnesses said was the pepper-spraying of a pro-Trump marcher Saturday in Huntington Beach, Calif.
This was the scene at today's pro-Trump rally in Huntington Beach https://t.co/1lwLLCmeFX pic.twitter.com/L1Ns1yrP2D
— Los Angeles Times (@latimes) March 26, 2017
Violence erupted at pro-Trump rally in Huntington Beach today when counter-protester pepper sprayed event organizer https://t.co/1lwLLCmeFX pic.twitter.com/JdEOAyzxNc
— Los Angeles Times (@latimes) March 25, 2017
It’s a disturbing trend, following previous reports of “anti-fascist” protesters spraying people at the #March4Trump rally in Berkeley and at the riot that broke out outside a canceled Milo Yiannopoulos appearance … in Berkeley. (New York deserves a shout-out too.)
Violence erupting at Trump rally when pro and anti Trump protestors collide. #MAGAMARCH in Huntington Beach pic.twitter.com/vaLRWGotEp
— Cindy Carcamo (@theCindyCarcamo) March 25, 2017
We sincerely appreciate the reporting, but it would be nice if journalists could get out of the habit of calling the people who organize rallies in support of the president “protesters,” and the people who show up to protest “counter-protesters.”
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#BREAKING – arrests have been made after fight at #MAGAMARCH – 1 person pepper sprayed by anti-Trump protestor, 1 man punched. @KNX1070 pic.twitter.com/lab3FLdq33
— Cooper Rummell (@CooperRummell) March 25, 2017
Violence erupting at Trump rally when pro and anti Trump protestors collide. #MAGAMARCH in Huntington Beach pic.twitter.com/MDxGhX2GoO
— Cindy Carcamo (@theCindyCarcamo) March 25, 2017
https://twitter.com/immigrant4trump/status/845785936239755265
https://twitter.com/immigrant4trump/status/845786933594935296
Violence erupts in Huntington Beach between protesters and Pro-Trump marchers. @ocregister #protest #HuntingtonBeach #trump pic.twitter.com/3mBuJu2Ukz
— Kevin Sullivan (@sullikevphoto) March 25, 2017
Man in black mask chased onto PCH, marchers said he pepper sprayed them #MAGAMARCH in #HuntingtonBeach pic.twitter.com/ZPNWJaVYol
— Ben Brazil (@benbrazilpilot) March 25, 2017
We’re not advocating violence, but being hit over the head with a MAGA flag, no matter how hard, really has to sting. The LA Times reports:
Travis Guenther, whose wife was also pepper-sprayed, said he was among those who chased the masked man and struck him with a flag that said, “Trump, Make America Great Again.”
“I hit him five times with the flag over his head,” said Guenther, who yelled at the man as he was detained by law enforcement officials.
This was no day at the beach:
https://twitter.com/jamesspivey/status/845820382426923009
Here are a few photos of Trump supporters, since they were the reason for the rally in the first place. Even if you’re no fan of the president, it’s nice to imagine that people could assemble peacefully. Maybe again someday?
Sea of red, white and blue at #MAGA rally in Huntington Beach. @ocregister pic.twitter.com/D0GPrCFVQb
— Kelly Puente (@KellyPuenteLB) March 25, 2017
https://twitter.com/FranciscoMedRep/status/845772837306621952
These men said they saved Donald Trump piñata from the violent scuffle at the #MAGAMARCH in Huntington Beach. pic.twitter.com/Amx6mFH7Iy
— Cindy Carcamo (@theCindyCarcamo) March 25, 2017
Huntington Beach, CA, Trump celebration?? pic.twitter.com/qEZtXwV1v3
— Patricia Dickson (@Patrici15767099) March 25, 2017
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