An April 11 “White Lives Matter” rally in Huntington Beach fizzled out as hundreds of counter protesters confronted a smaller number of white supremacists, Proud Boys and Trump supporters who had come to show support for an assortment of right wing extremist positions. The event was meant to coincide with rallies nationwide. Numerous small scuffles broke out between attendees. Huntington Beach, a city with a history of neo-Nazi and white supremacist activity, has had previous gatherings of right wing groups turn violent.
Over the day, 12 arrests were made. Police from Huntington Beach, Seal Beach and Anaheim, along with Orange County sheriff’s deputies, SWAT units and mounted horse units attempted to keep violence to a minimum as small fights broke out in the commercial blocks around the pier and Main Street.
Just after 2:30 p.m. the Huntington Beach Police Dept. declared the gathering an unlawful assembly, and alerts were sent to people’s cellphones threatening arrest of those who did not disperse. On Main Street bar patrons watched the brawling from second floor restaurants and on the street.