#BREAKING UPDATE: Berkeley police have made 15 arrests and "anticipate more" as violent protesters swarm city roads. https://t.co/s1SrxHksnZ pic.twitter.com/i38hv9jH0E
— NBC Bay Area (@nbcbayarea) April 15, 2017
In Berkeley Saturday morning, and into the afternoon, hundreds of demonstrators on opposite ends of the political spectrum once again clashed in the city's Civic Center Park, breaking into fights, lighting fireworks, and generally causing mayhem. As NBC Bay Area reports, the crowds both attendees of a "Patriot's Day" rally and a counter-protest, and inevitably others who show up to these things just to participate in anarchic behavior spilled out over to Shattuck Avenue in downtown Berkeley, and police were advising people to avoid the area.
As of noon or just after, police said they had made 15 arrests and anticipated more.
Also, Berkeley cops have brought in Alameda County Sheriff's deputies for backup, and NBC Bay Area reports that "rocks and bottles were launched at officers and many were assaulted."
ABC 7 reports that "some type of gas" was released in the park this morning, and thus officers have had to wear gas masks."
In response to the "civil disturbance," BART was not making stops at Downtown Berkeley station, and that remained the case as of 4 p.m.
Giving a speech at one more secured end of the park was alt-right blogger Lauren Southern, as the LA Times reports, railing against "societal change, Kim Kardashian and the media," and calling on the alt-right to become more like the left in their tactics, "subversive."
This is the third time in recent months that a clash like this has taken place in the streets of Berkeley, beginning with the night of a planned Milo Yiannopoulos speech on the Cal campus on February 1, and continuing with a rally and counter-protest similar to the ones held today just a month ago, on March 4. Berkeley police continue to seek suspects who were caught on camera assaulting others during that event.
CNN has picked up the story, noting that the violent clash in Berkeley is just one of many demonstrations happening around the country for Tax Day, with some of these focused on pushing for President Trump to release his tax returns.
TMZ had some helicopter footage of one mass fight breaking out in Berkeley where demonstrators can be seen wielding sticks and carrying shields.
15 arrested as violence breaks out between supporters and detractors of Pres. Trump holding rallies in Berkeley: https://t.co/oDRdtN0Kz0 pic.twitter.com/SPE43XSge3
— CBS News (@CBSNews) April 15, 2017
In one video below, you can see where demonstrators on either side of a makeshift orange barrier end up crossing over it to engage in skirmishes with each other. And one demonstrator is carrying a a sign with that symbol of the alt-right, Pepe the frog, and the message "Green Lives Matter."
Street fights everywhere in Berkeley. This is so nuts. pic.twitter.com/SZoc0MdxyE
— Shane Bauer (@shane_bauer) April 15, 2017
Downtown Berkeley. pic.twitter.com/cbJqCr1xV9
— Shane Bauer (@shane_bauer) April 15, 2017
Feels like a war zone at this Berkeley alt-right rally. pic.twitter.com/MvKdm3f7RT
— Shane Bauer (@shane_bauer) April 15, 2017
The tolerant left strikes again. #Berkeley pic.twitter.com/TW4K3djBDz
— Charlie Kirk (@charliekirk11) April 15, 2017
Straight up nazis in Berkeley. Guy on left said he was a "national socialist. pic.twitter.com/99Q8wzpOc5
— Shane Bauer (@shane_bauer) April 15, 2017
Downtown Berkeley. pic.twitter.com/UjdUW57n11
— Shane Bauer (@shane_bauer) April 15, 2017
Caught up with racist group at #berkeleyprotests. This guy just spouted words about how sub Saharan Africans ... well don't want to say. pic.twitter.com/2hsh1WydTQ
— Berkeleyside (@berkeleyside) April 15, 2017
Meanwhile, a more peaceful Tax Day rally was going on in San Francisco's Civic Center, with Jane Kim and Nancy Pelosi making appearances, among others.
.@NancyPelosi out here along with @DavidCayJ for the #SanFrancisco #TaxMarch #TaxMarchSF pic.twitter.com/yuMDLDBTny
— Gillian Edevane (@GillianNBC) April 15, 2017
.@JaneKim also here speaking at #SanFrancisco #TaxMarch pic.twitter.com/gKm2GFqJYz
— Gillian Edevane (@GillianNBC) April 15, 2017
Previously: Berkeley Braces For Another Pro-Trump Rally Saturday, Cancels Farmers Market