‘Still think Antifa is just an idea?’ Black conservative activist gets tooth knocked in clashes during free speech rally (VIDEOS)
Conservative protesters in San Francisco accuse Antifa activists of violently attacking their rally. Police officers were injured at the event as well.
A “free speech rally” was held at the United Nations Plaza on Saturday. Some demonstrators wore red ‘Make America Great Again’ Trump campaign hats and carried pro-police ‘Thin Blue Line’ flags, as well as US flags. The activists came to decry what they call censorship of conservative views and stories by social media giants, like San Francisco-based Twitter.
Counter-protesters rushed to the scene as well, quickly outnumbering their rivals. Carrying makeshift shields and ‘Smash fascism’ banners, they threw plastic and glass bottles, and heckled the conservative rally organizer, Philip Anderson, as he was trying to make a speech.
Philip Anderson says his “free speech rally” is canceled, he claims he was attacked before the event. Speakers were shouted down by a large group of counter-protesters. https://t.co/O49E8GRH2xpic.twitter.com/hcuQgZ2e02
— Cornell Barnard (@CornellBarnard) October 17, 2020
Videos posted on social media show loud activists trailing Anderson, chanting “Get the f**k out!” and “You’re not welcome here!” as the man was going to the stage. At one point, a black-clad man suddenly jumped on Anderson, delivering two powerful punches to his face.
Antifa formed a mob to attack a black man. You couldn’t make this up. pic.twitter.com/Zowc3LcuX7
— Ian Miles Cheong (@stillgray) October 17, 2020
Anderson, who was covering his mouth after the attack, was then forced to climb over a barricade to escape the crowd.
Antifa cheap shot in San Francisco on a black guy. Just an idea says @JoeBidenpic.twitter.com/pD1Db7W4RM
— CIA-Simulation Warlord 🇺🇸🎃🇺🇸 (@zerosum24) October 17, 2020
Shortly after the attack, Anderson posted photos of his bloody mouth with a front tooth missing and another hanging loosely. He wrote that Antifa assaulted him “for no reason.”
In a video apparently filmed from a hospital bed, Anderson addressed Trump’s rival in the presidential race, former Vice President Joe Biden. “I wanna ask you, do you still think, after seeing this, that they’re just an idea? Okay, I want you to answer that question, Joe Biden,” he said, referring to a statement Biden made during a televised debate with Trump last month. When asked by Trump to condemn the violence by Antifa members, Biden claimed that Antifa was “an idea, not an organization.”
A scuffle erupted at the corner of Market and Polk between two men, one wearing a MAGA hat, who walked into a crowd of counter protesters. Punches and water from bottles were thrown as the crowd chased him down Market St. toward 11th st. and a police officer line. pic.twitter.com/NfKeuTR2Vw
— Mallory Moench (@mallorymoench) October 17, 2020
Other scuffles broke out at the United Nations Plaza as well, with one video showing an alleged Antifa member hitting a person with something resembling a baseball bat. According to local media, at least one Trump supporter was taken away in an ambulance.
San Francisco Police said several people, including three officers, were injured during the event. Officers suffered from pepper spray and “caustic chemicals,” according to a statement.
At the same time in Washington DC, a young Trump supporter claimed she was assaulted by Black Lives Matter activists for bringing a ‘Trump 2020’ flag to the Women’s March. Isabella DeLuca posted a photo of herself in a cervical collar with a bruised face and lip
.@bellamaria1776 was hospitalized for supporting our President today at the Women’s March in D.C.Assaulting a woman, in attendance at a march for women, is the epitome of hypocrisy. End violence NOW. pic.twitter.com/0Gh5zVPtiL
— Mike Yoder (@Yoder_Esqq) October 17, 2020
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