Berkeley had been bracing for far right violence at the Aug. 27 rally in Martin Luther King Civic Center Park. Instead, it was black-clad protestors from the far left that drew blood. The grisly scene, described here by the L.A. Times, has led to increased scrutiny of far left groups like Antifa and calls for a tougher approach toward them and their surrogates.
Berkeley Mayor Jesse Arreguin responded to the recent conflicts in his city.
“I think we should classify them as a gang,” said Arreguin of Antifa. “They come dressed in uniforms. They have weapons, almost like a militia and I think we need to think about that in terms of our law enforcement approach.”
California legislators are on the same page. There’s an ongoing debate over the issue in Sacramento as we speak.
As state and city leaders mull the gang classification, Berkeley is gearing up for another potential round of violence during so-called Free Speech Week at the University of California, Berkeley later this month. Arreguin wants the event cancelled, fearing it could be used as a pretext for violent protests that will “spill out onto the city streets.” That idea has elicited condemnation from Trump supporters and free speech advocates.