Rumored White Lives Matter Rally in Huntington Beach Turns to BLM Unlawful Assembly

Rumored White Lives Matter Rally in Huntington Beach Turns to BLM Unlawful Assembly
Joe Cook Gines holds an anti-KKK sign during a protest against white supremacy in Huntington Beach, Calif., on April 11, 2021. Apu Gomes/Getty Images
Jamie Joseph
Updated:

The City of Huntington Beach, California, braced for a rumored White Lives Matter (WLM) rally on April 11, though it didn’t materialize, for the most part.

Instead, it became predominantly a Black Lives Matter (BLM) rally of some 500 people—according to a police estimate—which had been planned as a counter-protest.

Scuffles ensued and the gathering was declared an unlawful assembly, with 11 arrested.

Though there was no WLM signage or chants, a small number of extremists made an appearance, including two men shouting racial slurs at the BLM side and others with tattoos including swastikas. One of them slapped a counter-protester.

A separate handful of people lined the street with signs promoting “All Lives Matter” and expressing support for former President Donald Trump. They were accosted by counter-protesters.

A person wears a Proud Boys T-shirt as demonstrators face off during a counter-protest organized against a rumored "White Lives Matter" rally in Huntington Beach, Calif., on April 11, 2021. (Patrick T. Fallon/AFP via Getty Images)
A person wears a Proud Boys T-shirt as demonstrators face off during a counter-protest organized against a rumored "White Lives Matter" rally in Huntington Beach, Calif., on April 11, 2021. Patrick T. Fallon/AFP via Getty Images

The WLM rally was announced through social media, but the Huntington Beach Police Department (HBPD) said it couldn’t identify any specific organizer.

“Our information came solely from social media,” officer Brian Smith told reporters. “We attempted to identify an organizer or a leader or even who did the initial post, but we were unable to establish that.”

Huntington Beach Councilman Tito Ortiz shared a post on Instagram the day before the event saying: “WARNING real patriots do not go to the HB Pier this Sunday, April 11. ‘White Lives Matter’ rally is a trap by the KKK or people pretending to be the KKK to discredit us & HB itself.”

Flyers had circulated in the city, as well as Newport Beach, in prior weeks that advertised the rally and also promoted a group called the Loyal White Knights of the Ku Klux Klan (KKK). In response, Huntington Beach City Council passed resolutions against racism.

The BLM counter-protest began at approximately 11 a.m. at Main St. and Pacific Coast Highway. “We’re gathered here today as one people ... to create a better community,” BLM Huntington Beach chapter leader Tory Johnson, 35, said to protesters at around 11:15 a.m. through a megaphone.

Within the first hour, two counter-protesters were arrested. By the time HPBD announced an unlawful assembly at 2:36 p.m. due to an unruly crowd, 11 people total had been arrested, Smith told The Epoch Times via email.

The arrests were for (1) use of amplified device after warning; (2) resisting or delaying an officer, and unlawful possession of a billy club; (3) felony possession of tear gas and carrying a prohibited item during a public rally (pepper spray); (4) public intoxication; (5) petty theft and pedestrian in the roadway; (6) fighting in public; (7) use of amplified device after warning and outstanding warrants; (8) pedestrian in roadway and resisting or delaying an officer; (9) carrying a prohibited item during a public rally (pepper spray); (10) carrying a prohibited item during a public rally (prohibited pole); and (11) fighting in public.

“After the order was given, the crowd dispersed, effectively ending the event,” Smith said.

Police officers arrest a man for noise violation during a protest against white supremacy in Huntington Beach, Calif., on April 11, 2021. (Apu Gomes/Getty Images)
Police officers arrest a man for noise violation during a protest against white supremacy in Huntington Beach, Calif., on April 11, 2021. Apu Gomes/Getty Images
Police officers detain an alleged Proud Boy member during a protest against white supremacy in Huntington Beach, Calif., on April 11, 2021. (Apu Gomes/Getty Images)
Police officers detain an alleged Proud Boy member during a protest against white supremacy in Huntington Beach, Calif., on April 11, 2021. Apu Gomes/Getty Images
Police officers detain people during a protest against white supremacy in Huntington Beach, Calif., on April 11, 2021. (Apu Gomes/Getty Images)
Police officers detain people during a protest against white supremacy in Huntington Beach, Calif., on April 11, 2021. Apu Gomes/Getty Images
Black Lives Matter supporters gather in Huntington Beach, Calif., on April 11, 2021. (Tomas Morales)
Black Lives Matter supporters gather in Huntington Beach, Calif., on April 11, 2021. Tomas Morales

The crowds had chanted “Nazis go home,” “No KKK, No Fascist U.S.A,” “What Do We Want? ... Unity,” as well as a chant directing profanities at police.

Dozens of HBPD officers were present, with some on horseback and others holding batons. A number of SWAT agents and Anaheim Police Department officers were also monitoring the streets.

Jamie Joseph
Jamie Joseph
Author
Jamie is a California-based reporter covering issues in Los Angeles and state policies for The Epoch Times. In her free time, she enjoys reading nonfiction and thrillers, going to the beach, studying Christian theology, and writing poetry. You can always find Jamie writing breaking news with a cup of tea in hand.
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