More protests getting out of hand in Berkeley

[UglyCasanova]

http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-berkeley-trump-rally-20170415-story.html


Both sides like to battle and it seems this is ground zero. The various sporting goods being used is somewhat amusing.

Damn

This guy

Warming up

 

[Amused]

It's pretty obvious that the alt-right white powder puffs came looking for a fight and started one.

Of all the anti-trump rallies today, the one that the alt-right showed up at had violence.

But I'm sure that was just a coincidence.

Stewart Rhodes, founder of the citizen militia group known as the Oath Keepers, said he came from Montana with about 50 others to protect Trump supporters. They were joined by bikers and others who vowed to fight members of an anti-fascist group if they crossed police barricades.

“I don’t mind hitting” the counter-demonstrators, whom he called “neo-Nazis,” Rhodes said. “In fact, I would kind of enjoy it.”

But Rhodes credited Berkeley police for new tactics that mostly kept the two sides apart and “our side chilled and relaxed,” though sporadic fights broke out among both groups throughout the morning and afternoon.


“It’s getting sporty,” said Oath Keeper John Karriman, 59, who is from Missouri and was among the group’s security leaders.​

 

[UglyCasanova]

 

[shortylickens]

"Jesus will judge you"

*POW*


Yeah, thats fuckin lovely.

 

[ch33zw1z]

Guy with "Jesus will Judge You" shirt, kicking someone on the ground.

Perplexing at best. Is his name Jesus?

 

[ch33zw1z]

It's pretty obvious that the alt-right white powder puffs came looking for a fight and started one.

Of all the anti-trump rallies today, the one that the alt-right showed up at had violence.

But I'm sure that was just a coincidence.

Stewart Rhodes, founder of the citizen militia group known as the Oath Keepers, said he came from Montana with about 50 others to protect Trump supporters. They were joined by bikers and others who vowed to fight members of an anti-fascist group if they crossed police barricades.

“I don’t mind hitting” the counter-demonstrators, whom he called “neo-Nazis,” Rhodes said. “In fact, I would kind of enjoy it.”

But Rhodes credited Berkeley police for new tactics that mostly kept the two sides apart and “our side chilled and relaxed,” though sporadic fights broke out among both groups throughout the morning and afternoon.


“It’s getting sporty,” said Oath Keeper John Karriman, 59, who is from Missouri and was among the group’s security leaders.​

Yup, just like the other times.

I'm down for some friendly fire vids, that Trump support spraying pepper spray on Trumpet supporter was funny af

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

Berkley.

 

[HamburgerBoy]

It's basically LARPing. Trust-fund Marxists and the Trump faithful putting on costumes and playing war. Anyone that goes to a protest with the intent of destroying property or getting into a fight should be shot.

Anyone that thinks only the Trump people initiate violence is just blind though. Dumbass virtue signalers like Amused can't see so well. Interestingly, anti-black violence only happened at Klan rallies where black people were present. Must be black people's fault for getting lynched.

 

[Jhhnn]

The ruff tuff cream puff punching the woman is obviously not a thug, right?

 

[desura]

It's basically LARPing. Trust-fund Marxists and the Trump faithful putting on costumes and playing war. Anyone that goes to a protest with the intent of destroying property or getting into a fight should be shot.

Anyone that thinks only the Trump people initiate violence is just blind though. Dumbass virtue signalers like Amused can't see so well. Interestingly, anti-black violence only happened at Klan rallies where black people were present. Must be black people's fault for getting lynched.

Yeah. I think both are idiots of course. And both sides are equally stupid.

 

[Linux23]

I thought men weren't supposed to slug women?

Holy shit.

 

[HamburgerBoy]

The ruff tuff cream puff punching the woman is obviously not a thug, right?

He would clearly appear to be a thug to me, unless she had a knife pulled or something just seconds prior. Anyone that initiates violence because of political disagreement is a tribalist thug and should be put down.

EDIT: Apparently this thug was previously in prison a decade ago for armed robbery, and is also an ex-soldier and drug addict.

http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-nathan-damigo-alt-right-20161115-story.html

We need life sentences for violent criminals.

 

[Jhhnn]

Trump calls for violence, gets violence.

 

[HTFOff]

I thought men weren't supposed to slug women?

Holy shit.

Nice 1950's gender conformity mindset you weenie.

This is equality at play.

Get educated, asshole.

 

[desura]

Nice 1950's gender conformity mindset you weenie.

This is equality at play.

Get educated, asshole.

She was a "kick-ass" woman. EG, effectively a man.

 

[Linux23]

Nice 1950's gender conformity mindset you weenie.

This is equality at play.

Get educated, asshole.

Not sure if serious.

 

[Zorba]

The OP pictures almost completely match the stereotype for both sides.

I am sure the day of both sides were starting stuff. But going way out of your way to hold a pro-trump rally at Berkeley is going out of your way to start something too.

Edit: In that gif, I am sure everyone of the people doing the beating believes in stand your ground laws, in which case I think they could have all legally been shot. Especially the guy getting kicked on the ground.

 

[bshole]

It's basically LARPing. Trust-fund Marxists and the Trump faithful putting on costumes and playing war. Anyone that goes to a protest with the intent of destroying property or getting into a fight should be shot.

There is a context under which violence may be appropriate.

When the labor movement was going strong, protesters did get killed on a sporadic basis... a few hundred total. They achieved an enormous victory for working people which is being systematically destroyed before our eyes. There may be labor movements in America's future and they may be violent. All that is needed is enough hopeless people.

The Revolutionary War started out with violent protests and destruction of private property.

I certainly don't believe protesters should be shot, although I would support their arrest and prosecution if they committed crimes. Have to wonder if hate crimes statutes cover political ideology...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_worker_deaths_in_United_States_labor_disputes

 

[HamburgerBoy]

I am sure the day of both sides were starting stuff. But going way out of your way to hold a pro-trump rally at Berkeley is going out of your way to start something too.

You don't believe in freedom of assembly and speech?

There is a context under which violence may be appropriate.

When the labor movement was going strong, protesters did get killed on a sporadic basis... a few hundred total. They achieved an enormous victory for working people which is being systematically destroyed before our eyes. There may be labor movements in America's future and they may be violent. All that is needed is enough hopeless people.

The Revolutionary War started out with violent protests and destruction of private property.

I certainly don't believe protesters should be shot, although I would support their arrest and prosecution if they committed crimes. Have to wonder if hate crimes statutes cover political ideology...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_worker_deaths_in_United_States_labor_disputes

Actually, in this context I totally agree with you. There will always be exceptions where the law is insufficient to address the infringement of others' rights, and it is up to those feeling violated to rise up and change law by force when they feel there is no other alternative. However, by definition our system of laws is also required to suppress any such uprising. If ANTIFA or Trumpbots or anyone else are willing to literally pick up arms and die for a cause, I respect that as an expression of their human autonomy, but it cannot be permitted as a valid form or protest. If you protest peacefully to an extent but maybe pepper spray or sucker punch a person that offends you and then run to the police when someone hits back, you deserve neither protection nor respect, only prosecution.

 

[mindless1]

I thought men weren't supposed to slug women?

Holy shit.

I wouldn't, but I completely understand a man hitting a woman if she puts herself in the middle of a brawl... women in the military now too, won't the enemy shoot back at them? My take on it is that if you're a woman or man and don't want to be hit, don't put yourself in a violent situation. It's not a justification, just mob reality.

 

[Zorba]

You don't believe in freedom of assembly and speech?

I didn't even kind of imply that. I do think the pro-trump groups are targeting Berkley with the hope of starting a riot, though. I think they have the right to go there and protest, and I will defend their right to do so as much as possible. But when they cry after the fact, trying to blame the "liberals" for being "so violent" it kind of falls on deaf ears. Especially when there is video of them beating the shit out of people.

Or do you think they are driving a thousand miles to Berkley just because they like the weather?

For the record, I am also against the anarchist groups that show up at leftist rallys and start riots too.

 

[Freestyle7]

From that first gif, "come at me bro" comes to mind.

 

[mikeymikec]

Anyone that thinks only the Trump people initiate violence is just blind though.

Anyone who thinks that this is a good argument angle needs their eyes checked.

I am sure the day of both sides were starting stuff. But going way out of your way to hold a pro-trump rally at Berkeley is going out of your way to start something too.

You don't believe in freedom of assembly and speech?

 

[trenchfoot]

Geez, just imagine if Trump never got elected. No protests due to Trump's emboldenment of the bigots and supremacists, no declaration that Putin is a nice guy we that should get cozy with, no hiding of the Russian Connection necessary, no filling of cabinet positions with folks that are intent on disassembling/gutting their departments and agencies so as to get them out of the way of the very wealthy, no threat to the ACA, Medicare and Social Security, no hilarious/disastrous vaudeville-keystone cops jukes, cover ups and diversions from Trump making stupid off the cuff remarks, threats and accusations and so much more.....

And to think that sometime in the future these days will become "the good 'ol days" for some folks when a president stood up for and supported ALL Americans, especially the ones that finally feel free to openly spread hatred, fear and contempt for their fellow citizens due to the "not looking like me/not born here like me" syndrome they got infected with somewhere in their upbringing. That Trump openly curried favor with folks like that in order to win/keep his presidency is something that is now added to the "new normal" category that he has set a precedent to.

All in all, he is just an arrogant bully of a businessman who has branded himself a deal maker/breaker that just so happens to have gotten elected POTUS. His first orders of business have seen him and his GOP cohorts unabashedly exploiting his/their elective offices so as to enrich themselves and their ilk ever higher, although it's not as if the GOP haven't been doing this for decades on end, it's just that Trump has been very open and shameless about the way he's been doing it. He really doesn't care what ANYONE thinks about his bald faced attempts at pleasing himself and his fellow billionaires first and foremost, well, except when another election cycle comes around. Then it's off to making more false promises and firing up the 'ol Fakery Factory again.

He's even got his supporters siding with him on his opinion that we should consider Putin and his fellow Russian oligarchs folks that we could put our trust in. How's that for a sudden change of heart when previous to his ascension his predecessor was constantly accused of being a commie loving socialist. But then the Russians aren't "commies" anymore now that Trump has insinuated otherwise, right?

The one good thing that's coming from his being POTUS is that he is exposing himself and the GOP's agenda toward favoring the very wealthy's wishes and demands without any doubt or plausible deniability, a heretofore task that was previously couched in flowery deceptive language and deeds.

 

[HamburgerBoy]

I didn't even kind of imply that. I do think the pro-trump groups are targeting Berkley with the hope of starting a riot, though. I think they have the right to go there and protest, and I will defend their right to do so as much as possible. But when they cry after the fact, trying to blame the "liberals" for being "so violent" it kind of falls on deaf ears. Especially when there is video of them beating the shit out of people.

Or do you think they are driving a thousand miles to Berkley just because they like the weather?

For the record, I am also against the anarchist groups that show up at leftist rallys and start riots too.

How is protesting in front of a group you disagree with equivalent to wanting to start a riot? Protests are worthless when they're only permitted in front of people that agree with you. The fact that certain consequences are expected from a given action does not justify the consequences, nor does it disqualify the action's validity.

These anarchists are leftists, btw.

Anyone who thinks that this is a good argument angle needs their eyes checked.

It wasn't an argument, it was a statement of fact. Leftists like ANTIFA regularly initiate and commit violence during their "protests".