Protests turn into battles as rallies across the US turn ugly

Brawls between Antifa and far-right Proud Boys broke out on the streets of a Michigan city on Saturday, as protests against police brutality saw clashes between counter-protesters, demonstrators and riot police – scenes replicated across the United States this weekend. 

From Portland in the west to Miami in the east, via Michigan, Salt Lake City, Minneapolis and Chicago, Americans took to the streets on Saturday to demand change. 

In Michigan, a rally by the far-right group Proud Boys turned violent in downtown Kalamazoo, with demonstrators clashing with anti-racism protesters at a vigil organized by the First Congregational Church.

‘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,’ said The Rev. Nathan Dannison, the church’s pastor.

Addressing the gathered crowd, Dannison urged those present to commit themselves to non-violence and non-aggression, MLive reported.

In Kalamazoo, Michigan, anti-racism protesters attending a church-organized rally fought with Proud Boys in the streets

Members of the far-right Proud Boys group clash with anti-racism protesters in Kalamazoo, Michigan, on Saturday

Members of the far-right Proud Boys group clash with anti-racism protesters in Kalamazoo, Michigan, on Saturday

Police did not arrive to separate the rival warring factions until almost 2pm, by which time downtown Kalamazoo was chaotic

Police did not arrive to separate the rival warring factions until almost 2pm, by which time downtown Kalamazoo was chaotic

Punches were thrown and people were being shoved and kicked to the ground in the Michigan city on Saturday

Punches were thrown and people were being shoved and kicked to the ground in the Michigan city on Saturday

‘Let’s work together to remain peaceful and manifest positive energy with each other, to take care of each other, to take care of our own selves and our own safety, and to defend one another,’ Dannison told the crowd.

Shortly thereafter, chanting, mostly mask-less Proud Boys marched toward the park’s entrance, waving American, Trump, and Gadsden flags and other symbols. 

Violence broke out soon after, with Proud Boys attacking counter-protesters with fists, kicks, and shoves.  

Police arrived around 2pm to try and separate the rival protests. 

In Chicago, police used pepper spray and batons to repel hundreds of demonstrators, who took to the streets calling for the defunding of police.

One protester was seen apparently bashing an officer over the head with a skateboard. 

Officers then ripped umbrellas and bikes from protesters’ hands and sprayed the crowd with a chemical irritant, the Chicago Sun-Times reported. 

The demonstrations began at Chicago’s iconic Bean before the group traveled to Michigan Avenue and Wacker Drive. 

Multiple arrests were witnessed at the scene, NBC 5 said.

The group then continued to Michigan Avenue and Randolph Street, heading toward Chicago’s Loop as city bridges remained lifted, preventing them from crossing the Chicago River.

A heavy police presence was seen in the area with several officers both in front and behind the marching demonstrators and other lines of officers blocking streets.

The group chanted things like ‘no justice, no peace’ as they called for defunding the police, removing police from the city’s public schools, and abolishing Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

In Portland, day 80 of protests against systemic racism and police brutality saw gunshots fired.

Saturday began with a noon counter-protest, as around 30 right-wing demonstrators gathered in front of the Justice Center to support police.

A seemingly equal number of protesters arrived there to oppose them, Oregon Live reported, and skirmishes broke out between the opposing demonstrations.

The pro-police protesters maced and fired some kind of pellet guns toward counter-protesters, the site reported. 

A fight breaks out between Black Lives Matter protesters and demonstrators with the Open Up Oregon Rally protest

A fight breaks out between Black Lives Matter protesters and demonstrators with the Open Up Oregon Rally protest

A man holds aloft a sign in Portland, Oregon, on Saturday during the 80th day of demonstrations in the city

A man holds aloft a sign in Portland, Oregon, on Saturday during the 80th day of demonstrations in the city

Members of the Proud Boys, an alt-right, pro-Trump group, face off with activists in Portland, Oregon on Saturday

Members of the Proud Boys, an alt-right, pro-Trump group, face off with activists in Portland, Oregon on Saturday

The Proud Boys face off against Black Lives Matters protesters using mace and a paint ball gun in Portland on Saturday

The Proud Boys face off against Black Lives Matters protesters using mace and a paint ball gun in Portland on Saturday

One of their number then fired a gun twice from a car as they left a parking garage counter-protesters chased them into, the site said.  

A witness on the KOIN live stream said a protester had thrown a bottle at the car carrying right-wing protesters before the shots were fired. 

On the other side of the country, in Miami, a protest was held to demand justice for a man who died in ICE custody.

Kuan Hui Lee, 51, from Taiwan, had been held by ICE since January and died on August 5 at Kendall Regional Medical Center, where he had been in critical condition with a diagnosis of a massive intercranial hemorrhage. 

Activists held a vigil for Lee, demanding the abolition of ICE and waving placards reading: ‘Detention is Death’.

A Black Lives Matter affiliate, which calls for the defense of the Second Amendment, protests on the streets of Richmond, VA

A Black Lives Matter affiliate, which calls for the defense of the Second Amendment, protests on the streets of Richmond, VA

Demonstrators pose for photo during an open carry rally in Richmond, Virginia on Saturday afternoon

Demonstrators pose for photo during an open carry rally in Richmond, Virginia on Saturday afternoon

Demonstrators in Richmond, Virginia promote the defense of the Second Amendment

Demonstrators in Richmond, Virginia promote the defense of the Second Amendment

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