There were numerous reports from those on the scene that Berkeley police largely stayed back as Antifa agitators took pot shots at Donald Trump supporters on Saturday.
“As the violence escalated police in Berkeley stood down and retreated from the crowds,” reporter Tim Pool tweeted.
As the violence escalated police in Berkeley stood down and retreated from the crowds. I have never seen so few police at an event like this
— Tim Pool (@Timcast) April 16, 2017
“I have never seen so few police at an event like this.”
One observer claimed police “ran away,” despite several Trump rally attendees being attacked.
Literally blood on the streets and the police ran away from the #BerkeleyProtest live now on twitter pic.twitter.com/XRbh8hhMB5
— Luke Rudkowski (@Lukewearechange) April 15, 2017
Mother Jones reporter Shane Bauer saw two officers at a patrol car, not engaged in protecting citizens from violence.
I tell a police officer I've been seeing people get beat up all day and they haven't been around. "Okay, and?" he says. pic.twitter.com/OuGEcvvb8R
— Shane Bauer (@shane_bauer) April 15, 2017
“Hey, how come you guys are hanging back?” he asked an officer standing in an open door of the car and another sat in the back seat.
“That would be a question for the chief of police,” an officer sitting in the driver’s seat responded.
“You want a public statement, right?” the standing officer asked the reporter.
“I would refer you to our public information officer.”
“Do they told you to hang back?” Bauer said.
“As I said, I refer you to our public information officer,” the cop responded.
“I’ve been watching all day people get beat up pretty bad and I haven’t seen you guys around much,” Bauer said.
“Okay, and?” the officer responded.
Numerous videos show Trump supporters being beaten in the streets as police failed to keep the two sides apart.
Breakouts in Berkeley California #berkrally on #PatriotsDay
Trump supporters Vs AntiFapic.twitter.com/FZZtZ7qG30— Ali 阿里 علي ❄️ (@Ali_8k) April 15, 2017
At one point, several black-clad agitators isolated a lone Trump supporter and pummeled him with fists and feet.
Someone jumped in and clubbed him with a skateboard.
Here’s an aerial angle:
Absolutely chaotic scenes in Berkeley where pro- & anti-Trump protesters are clashing. @BuzzFeedNews also on scene: https://t.co/GHfElQPq6U pic.twitter.com/XX5mR0s7LC
— David Mack (@davidmackau) April 15, 2017
The Emergency Election Sale is now live! Get 30% to 60% off our most popular products today!