More than a dozen arrested as protesters, counterprotesters clash in Berkeley

Police in Berkeley, Calif., arrested more than a dozen people on Sunday as a small group of right-wing protesters violently clashed with hundreds of counterprotesters.

Officers announced they had arrested 20 people, predominately for carrying weapons, the department said in a statement.

The right-wing group — many dressed in army gear or President Trump’s “Make America Great Again” caps — gathered for the “No To Marxism in Berkeley” demonstration, The Mercury News reported.

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The group, however, was greatly outnumbered by counterprotesters, according to reports.

“Even though there were many hundreds of people, many of whom came armed and hostile, there were no significant injuries to anyone in the public or to City staff,” Berkeley Police said in a statement.

“The lack of injuries is fortunate given that extremists threw explosives at Berkeley Police and Alameda County Sheriff’s Office mutual aid officers,” the statement continued.

Three members of the public were treated for minor injuries, police added. 

Revolution Books, a left-wing bookstore, was vandalized by right-wing protesters who ripped down a display after people affiliated with the store chanted “America was never great” and dragged an American flag on the ground, The Mercury News reported.

Police and fascists attacked our guerilla revolution books without walls booth. We’re still here. Let’s make Berkeley Berkeley again. Fascist get out of Berkeley and off the planet! #YesToMarxism #YesToTheNewCommunism #NoToFascism #NoToCapitalism #NoToImperialism pic.twitter.com/TJn4aSNJYU

— ★ Revolution Books ★ (@RevolutionBksB) August 5, 2018

Police said that extremists smashed 21 city vehicles and slashed the tires of cars owned by the city.

One car and three dumpsters were also set on fire.

“Charlottesville never again,” counterprotesters drowned out the right-wing demonstrators with bullhorns.

The rally came near the one-year anniversary of the deadly protest in Charlottesville, Va., when one woman died protesting against white supremacists.

“Nazi scum, we’ll shut you down, Berkeley is an immigrant town,” the counterprotesters also chanted.

The Berkeley rally came the day after a self-described libertarian group clashed with antifa counterprotesters in Portland, Ore.

Police in heavy riot gear declared Patriot Prayer’s rally in downtown Portland a civil disturbance and ordered everyone to leave, after demonstrators were seen hurling projectiles into the crowds.