SAN DIEGO, CA- According to reports, prosecutors have charged at least seven people, described as self-identified anti-fascists, in connection with eight alleged assaults that occurred in January during a San Diego “Patriot March” organized by supporters of then-President Donald Trump.
In San Diego yesterday, Antifa militants were charged for physically attacking Trump supporters, conspiracy to commit a riot & also accused of organizing into groups to carry out crimes.
👏👏Way to go San Diego! https://t.co/wvDeUlmtzl— Linda Hale 🇺🇸⭐🇺🇸 Never Give Up (@EndRaceHating) December 7, 2021
Prosecutors allege that the defendants are “self-identified to be affiliated with anti-fascists or Antifa” and began organizing themselves, with one group originating in San Diego and the other in Los Angeles, a week before the pro-Trump rally that took place in the Pacific Beach neighborhood.
This case is believed to be one of the first to use conspiracy charges, in this case conspiracy to commit riot, to target people with ties to “Antifa.”
The Center for Strategic and International Studies describes Antifa as a “decentralized network of far-left militants who oppose what they believe are fascist, racist, or otherwise right-wing extremists” and whose adherents “frequently blend anarchist and communist views.”
Additionally, anti-fascists typically do not shy away from clashes, instead using what they call “direct action” to confront the systems, groups, and individuals they view as their political enemies.
A little over a year ago, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director Christopher Wray alleged that the far-left group, Antifa, is an “ideology” not a “group or an organization.”
F.B.I. Director Chris Wray Comes Under Fire https://t.co/FdGxQdo1rv #antifa #ChrisWray #fbi just another reason to get rid of all the swamp creatures
— peppey la pew (@LaPeppey) December 10, 2021
During the testimony in front of the House Homeland Security Committee, Wray added that Antifa was a “real thing” and that the FBI had undertaken “any number of properly predicated investigations into what we would describe as violent anarchist extremists.”
Critics are now speaking out against Wray’s description and the FBI’s approach to Antifa following the arraignment of seven self-identified Antifa militants in San Diego Superior Court.
Prosecutors allege that the Antifa members used pepper spray, small flag poles, sticks, and other items including their fists, to attack the crowd at a pro-Trump “Patriot March.” In a press release, the office of San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan, said:
“Video evidence analysis shows that overwhelmingly the violence in this incident was perpetrated by the Antifa affiliates and was not a mutual fray with both sides crossing out of lawful First Amendment expression into riot and violence.”
One man, 39-year-old Jeremy Jonathan White, has been accused of pepper spraying a dog and its owner, appearing to match video of the incident that was shared online. Kyle Shideler, director and senior analyst for homeland security and counterterrorism at the Center for Security Policy, said:
“I was very heartened to see law enforcement take steps to make these arrests. Hopefully it will be the start of a trend in state and local law enforcement to reject the inaccurate notion promoted by the FBI that Antifa lacks organization, network, or structure.”
During the testimony last year, Wray said:
“We don’t really think of threats in terms of left, right, at the FBI. We’re focused on the violence, not the ideology.”
@DOJPH #MerrickGarland#ChrisWray
Antifa still just a thought?
No, just shows how well the DOJ and FBI fit in Biden's pocket https://t.co/i6hIxO0AWh— Lynn Williams (@LynnWil66185346) December 10, 2021
Wray then went on to state that racially motivated violent extremists, such as “white supremacists, have been responsible for for the most lethal attacks in the U.S. in recent years.”
He added that as of recent, however, the most lethal violence has come from anti-government activists, such as anarchists and milita-types.
Even after admitting that, Wray still could not bring himself to state that Antifa is a domestic terrorist group. Robyn Gritz, a retired FBI special agent who worked in counterterrorism for several years, said:
“Many, like FBI Director Christopher Wray, have continued to say Antifa is not a group, but is an ideology. However, Antifa actually has a handbook entitled ‘Antifa: The Anti-Fascist Handbook,’ just like the al Qaeda manuals/handbooks found back in the 2000s.”
Gritz added that terrorists organizations often operate as cellular organizations composed of quasi-independent cells similar to those of Antifa, saying:
“It doesn’t make them any less of a terror group.”
Editor note: In 2020, we saw a nationwide push to “defund the police”. While we all stood here shaking our heads wondering if these people were serious… they cut billions of dollars in funding for police officers.
And as a result, crime has skyrocketed – all while the same politicians who said “you don’t need guns, the government will protect you” continued their attacks on both our police officers and our Second Amendment rights.
And that’s exactly why we’re launching this national crowdfunding campaign as part of our efforts to help “re-fund the police”.
For those looking for a quick link to get in the fight and support the cause, click here.
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Antifa militants charged with attacking Trump supporters in San Diego – also face weapons and arson charges
December 9th, 2021
SAN DIEGO, CA – Prosecutors announced that they have criminally charged a minimum of seven people for their roles in the civil unrest that occurred in January of this year at the “Patriot March.”
Those who were charged allegedly identify with being members of Antifa.
LOCK them ALL up!! https://t.co/6vhoJ5fedq
— LinJay4850 (@LindaJ73) December 8, 2021
In a shocking move from a liberal area of the country, prosecutors have levied charges for assaults that occurred during an event organized by former Republican President Donald Trump’s supporters in the area.
These people were part of a larger group that was arrested on December 2nd across Southern California.
San Diego District Attorney Summer Stephan’s office issued a news release in which she spoke about the decision to arrest this group.
While many might attempt to jump to conclusions that the arrests were somehow politically motivated, Stephan claimed they were not. Her office said:
“Video evidence analysis shows that overwhelmingly the violence in this incident was perpetrated by the Antifa affiliates and was not a mutual fray with both sides crossing out of lawful First Amendment expression into riot and violence.”
Prosecutors in the case allege that at least seven of those people who were arrested and arraigned on December 6th in the San Diego Superior Court:
“[S]elf-identified to be affiliated with Anti-fascists or Antifa.”
The criminal complaint filed in court not only alleges that these people are members of Antifa, but that they were organized.
Something that many members of Antifa say does not happen as they claim not to have any organizational structure.
However, at least, in this case, prosecutors allege that a group in San Diego and another in Los Angeles were very much organizing their moves with each other.
Believe it or not San Diego has arrested 10 members from ANTIFA
Last year there was a Patriot Parade at Imperial Beach
ANTIFA showed up from LA and attacked with Bear Spray, Kicking and randomly attacking Trump Supporters, it has taken 1 year
Next hearing is Dec 17th-No Mug Shots— sasha monet (@LabordeSheila) December 7, 2021
The alleged Antifa members were criminally charged with criminal conspiracy which was centered around a liked and shared social media post that announced to other like-minded individuals to attend the rally. The criminal complaint alleged that they:
“[I]n essence [were] agreeing to take part in the ‘direct action.’ Others agreed by showing up in the Pacific Beach on January 9th, 2021, and participating in the violence.”
The prosecutor’s defined direct action as:
“[A]cts of violence such as assault, battery, assault with deadly weapons, arson, and vandalism.”
Prosecutors allege that the Antifa members conducted themselves in criminal behavior by using multiple different items to attack those they felt supported President Trump.
Those who were arrested and faced a judge on the 6th were Jonathan White, Luis Francisco Mora, Joseph Austin Gaskins, Faraz Martin Talab, Bryan Rivera, Brian Lightfoot, and Jesse Merel Cannon.
If FBI and Antifa provocateurs entered the Capitol on January 6th, with equal Justice under the Law, they must be arrested and charged to the same extent as Trump supporters
— Alex Sheppard 🇺🇸 (@NotAlexSheppard) December 1, 2021
In most cases involving Antifa, there are plenty of social media videos going around that at some point can make it easy to identify the person behind the mask.
That was the case specifically with White, whose alleged attack on a President Trump supporter and his dog was captured on video.
Prosecutors allege White is the person who is captured on video pepper-spraying a President Trump supporter and his dog.
White was arraigned and ordered held in lieu of a $250,000 bond for conspiracy, assault with a deadly weapon, use of tear gas not in self-defense, and animal cruelty charges.
In addition to the people arraigned on the 6th, the San Diego Prosecutors office has also charged Samuel Ogden, Christian Martinez, and Alexander Akridge-Jacobs. Another Antifa member, Erich Yach, has not been taken into custody as of yet.
Police, Trump supporters violently attacked by Black Lives Matter and Antifa supporters in San Diego
SAN DIEGO, CA – A peaceful, scheduled protest by pro-Trump supporters was attacked by members of Black Lives Matter and the left-wing radical movement Antifa Saturday. The attackers also threw rocks, eggs, and glass bottles at police trying to restore order.
Pro-Trump supporters had scheduled a protest along Ocean Front Walk for early Saturday afternoon on the Pacific Beach Boardwalk. A flyer called the event a “patriot march.” The event was scheduled prior to the attack on the Capitol Wednesday.
Trump supporters gathered peacefully when a larger group of counter-protesters confronted them.
A video tweeted by Fox5’s Paul Makarushka showed some Trump supporters standing in a small group when about 100 counter-protesters approached, many dressed in black outfits often associated with Antifa. One person waved an “Antifaschistische” flag, the symbol of the Antifa movement.
The much larger group began yelling at the Trump supporters, and some could be heard shouting, “Fuck Trump.” Counter-protesters began surrounding the group of Trump supporters, who were being backed against a wall.
During the confrontation, one man identifying himself as a Black Lives Matter activist told Ruptly:
“Well, I mean we’re here today because a bunch of fascists decided they were going to come down and throw a rally in Pacific Beach, so we came down here to reject them.”
A pro-Trump protester said:
“There was supposed to be a rally down here with music for our friends. And then these freaking paramilitary freaks came and decided to march and attack.”
The two groups exchanged words, and then a man dressed in all-black battle fatigues sprayed the pro-Trump group with pepper spray. Trump supporters turned and began moving away choking, but the attackers followed.
One man could be seen carrying a wooden baseball bat. Another man threw a wooden folding chair at a Trump supporter who was running away.
A Trump supporter fell to the ground, and left-wing attackers swarmed over him, beating and kicking him. Some Trump supporters attempted to help the man but were held back by the attackers by throwing eggs and physical assault. The video ended at that point.
Police began to arrive and were confronted by the attackers, who began throwing eggs and glass bottles at them. Police eventually declared an unlawful assembly and riot police moved in. The two groups were separated around 2:30 p.m.
Police tweeted:
“The demonstration/protest at Hornblend St. & Mission Blvd has now been declared an unlawful assembly due to acts of violence. Please clear the area and head away from the scene.
“Those who remain or return against this lawful order may be cited/arrested and risk exposure to chemical agents & less-lethal force applications.”
Shortly before 3 p.m., San Diego police released a tweet stating officers had been struck by a glass bottle and eggs. Rocks and eggs were thrown at officers, and pepper spray was being directed toward the police from the crowd.
According to a report from The Los Angeles Times, officers fired what appeared to be pepperball rounds into the Antifa crowd during one confrontation.
Around 4:30 p.m., pro-Trump supporters regathered to continue their lawful protest. Police allowed the group to continue protesting, saying:
“We will continue to monitor both groups to help facilitate peaceful protests. However, we will not tolerate acts of violence. When rocks, bottles, pepper spray, and other objects are thrown or used on our officers, actions will be taken against those who commit violent acts.”
Police remained in the area and reported that both groups had left by 6 p.m. Police tweeted:
“We will always facilitate peaceful protests. However, we will not tolerate acts of violence.”
San Diego is home to Ashli Babbitt, the 35-year-old Air Force veteran who was shot and killed by police during the uprising at the United States Capitol on Wednesday. She lived in Ocean Beach with her husband.
Ocean Beach is about five miles from Pacific Beach, where the confrontation occurred.
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