At least one person was arrested after violence broke out at a pro-Trump rally in Huntington Beach, California, on Saturday, where counter-protesters allegedly pepper strayed and attacked pro-Trump demonstrators.
According to the Orange County Register, fights broke out when a crowd of pro-Trump demonstrators wearing red "Make America Great Again" hats and waving American flags passed a group of about 40 anti-Trump counter-protesters.
From the Register:
In no time, people were shoving, pushing others to the ground and throwing punches.
One protester peppered sprayed a Trump supporter, and a crowd broke off and ran into a parking lot, where a person was beaten.
One of the counter-protesters told the newspaper that an anti-Trump protester only used pepper spray in defense, but other accounts dispute that. The Los Angeles Times reports that the man with the pepper spray, dressed in black with a mask, attacked first after which pro-Trump demonstrators fought back by tackling, punching and kicking the man.
Social media captured the confrontations:
Violence erupting at Trump rally when pro and anti Trump protestors collide. #MAGAMARCH in Huntington Beach https://t.co/MDxGhX2GoO— Cindy Carcamo (@Cindy Carcamo) 1490471867.0
Man in black mask chased onto PCH, marchers said he pepper sprayed them #MAGAMARCH in #HuntingtonBeach https://t.co/ZPNWJaVYol— Ben Brazil (@Ben Brazil) 1490471386.0
Absolute unrest at the #MAGAmarch, anti-Trump protestors defending themselves while being ganged up on by Trump supporters. pic.twitter.com/7c8xu0J7N3
— budo (@hectorarzula) March 25, 2017
Including the moment officers from the California Highway Patrol detained one of the counter-protesters who assaulted a pro-Trump demonstrator:
Violence erupting at Trump rally when pro and anti Trump protestors collide. #MAGAMARCH in Huntington Beach https://t.co/vaLRWGotEp— Cindy Carcamo (@Cindy Carcamo) 1490471850.0
Watch more video captured from the chaotic scene. (Warning: Viewer discretion is advised for crude language.):
According to the Register, the "Make America Great Again" rally at Bolsa Chica State Beach drew about 1,000 demonstrators, most of them pro-Trump while just several dozen were anti-Trump.
Event organizers said they were gathering on the beach to show support for Trump, law enforcement and military veterans. The event coincided with about 40 other similar demonstrations nationwide on Saturday.