US

Antifa Reportedly Confronted The Proud Boys At A Planned March, Resulting In Fights And Arrests

No featured image available

Alleged Proud Boys and Antifa members collided on Saturday afternoon at a planned rally reportedly hosted by the Proud Boys in downtown Kalamazoo, Michigan, The Detroit News reported.

The Proud Boys reportedly carried assault weapons while they marched past Antifa before a brawl allegedly broke out, and members of both organizations reportedly used sicks and batons and threw things, The Detroit News reported. The Proud Boys allegedly deployed a “chemical irritant,” and the incident resulted in arrests, the Detroit News reported.

“A fight occurred, people were fighting, and that’s when we stepped in,” Assistant Vice Chief of the Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety Vernon Coakley said, The Detroit News reported. A few arrests were made at Arcrobinadia Creek Festival Place in downtown Kalamazoo, though officials were unsure of a total number of people arrested, Coakley said.

Looks like the Proud Boys street gang are getting the brawl they wanted in Michigan today https://t.co/3ZH4meQmFO

— Andy Campbell (@AndyBCampbell) August 15, 2020

The Proud Boys reportedly continued to march after the first incident, and were reportedly met by another group near Bronson Park, The Detroit News reported.

“We attempted to go around the park, and at that point, we basically got rushed by several who appeared to be Antifa and BLM,” a self-described Proud Boys member said, The Detroit News reported. “We were approached, words obviously were exchanged, and … a member of the group at the park was the first one to throw a punch.”

The member reportedly said the other group initiated the fight since it’s a membership law to “not throw the first punch,” The Detroit News reported. Several counter-protesters identified themselves are part of Antifa, but also declined to give their names, The Detroit News reported.

“We’ll defend ourselves … and we had to do what we could do to make ourselves safe,” the Proud Boys member said, The Detroit News reported. The Proud Boys member reportedly said “pepper spray was used” as a “last-ditch effort to basically stop the fighting that was going on,” but did not comment on other weapons carried by the group, The Detroit News reported.

The Proud Boys, an alt-right hate group known for violence, is hosting a rally today in downtown Kalamazoo. A West Michigan church is protesting against them. After the counter-protesters and police arrived, the Proud Boys began to move through the city. https://t.co/lUY9NAHAAd

— WSBT (@WSBT) August 15, 2020

“The Proud Boys, they not only have hatred for Jewish people and Muslim people, but they’re also very hateful of anybody who doesn’t look like them or act like them,” Rev. Nathan Dannison said, The Detroit News reported. Counter-protesters reportedly held a vigil at the First Congregational Church, where Dannison is the pastor.

Everyone was ordered to leave the area by Kalamazoo police, The Detroit News reported. Police reportedly deployed chemical irritants and arrested counter-protesters who refused to leave the area.

Portage and Michigan State Police joined the Kalamazoo Police to disperse the crowd, The Detroit News Reported. The rally had been reportedly planned by the Proud Boys, and Antifa had come to counter-protest the event, according to Detroit News.