In 2016, violence broke out between anti-fascist protestors and neo-Nazis at a Sacramento, California neo-Nazi rally. Ten people were injured, five of them stabbed.
Demonstrators battled with sticks, protest signs and other weapons as the Traditionalist Worker Party group – which said it wanted to assist supporters of presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump – began setting up for a scheduled noon rally on the west steps of the Capitol.
Even before the event began, clashes broke out at numerous locations around the Capitol grounds among the 400 people gathered for and against the rally, which had been heavily promoted – and denounced – in recent days on various websites. Injuries were reported on both sides of the altercation.
Subsequently, Sacramento police arrested three anti-fascist protestors. The arrested party have been arguing that this process by the state amounts to the the state being complicit in the systemic white supremacy plaguing America.
Defense attorneys following the Wednesday hearing alternately called Sacramento County’s prosecution of the trio “silly,” “ridiculous,” and politically motivated, and said they will ask county prosecutors to turn over more evidence in the case.
“There are a lot of critical omissions that we’re going to be requesting,” including police reports and chain-of-evidence information, said Felarca attorney Ronald Cruz, adding that he will soon draw up a motion to dismiss charges.
The charges against Felarca, who has been associated with the antifa movement, are “entirely political in character,” Cruz said. “They’re only prosecuting her on her political views.” He also cited video footage from the scene that he contends “clearly shows Nazis stabbing people.”