Reporter and photographers say they were assaulted by Trump supporters at Huntington Beach rally

[Kablooie]

Source: LA Times

An OC Weekly reporter and two photographers said Sunday that they were physically assaulted by pro-Trump demonstrators at a Make America Great Again rally in Huntington Beach and are seeking the public’s help in identifying at least one of the people responsible.

Frank Tristan, an intern at the paper, and photographers Julie Leopo and Brian Feinzimer were attacked before one of several counter-demonstrators pepper sprayed an organizer of Saturday’s event. After Jennifer Sterling was pepper-sprayed, several fights broke out.

A video of the confrontation shows Sterling trying to intervene after a Trump supporter pushed and shoved Feinzimer, who was shooting pictures of Leopo being hit with an American flag, then repeatedly punched Tristan. A moment later, Sterling is pepper-sprayed and can be seen staggering around, rubbing her eyes before falling to the ground.

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“From everything I saw, the counter-protesters and Sterling were trying to defend me from the people beating me,” Tristan said. “Sterling got caught in the middle and was pepper-sprayed. It was not a direct attack on her.”

Read more: http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-trump-rally-20170326-story.html

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This is a clarification of yesterday's article that said a counter demonstrator started the melee.
Always read news articles with a bit of skepticism.
Particularly when there hasn't been enough time to properly assess the situation.

[ck4829]

1. An interesting twist to be sure.

[Jonny Appleseed]

2. "Leopo being hit with an American flag" Did they get it?

That would've been some really powerful imagery.

[larry budwell]

3. Or a Russian flag ?

maybe, lol.

[Jonny Appleseed]

4. Trump supporter beating a reporter with an American flag to protect a guy waving a Russian flag

[Control-Z]

6. I hope they got the shots.

That would be great.

[MadLinguist]

13. Brings to mind the 1976 assault on Ted Landsmark

with an American flag

[Control-Z]

5. Damn, I'd love to see

some of that footage and some still shots. I hope they publish something soon. I've seldom known of our side to start physical confrontations. I always question when it happens, usually to find out later that the story was spun.

[tenorly]

7. I noticed a white supremacist flag in the background of one of the photos of the incident.

Here, just under the U.S. flag:

[Achilleaze]

8. k and r

in the service of real facts

[paleotn]

9. Brown shirts will be brown shirts....

[58Sunliner]

10. I find the timing interesting. And the one in Huntington Beach looks like a set-up.

These people look like a casting directer organized them, gave them flags and paid the actors. I have never seen the thin blue line flag at a rally. I am sure it is a call out not just to LE. They were there to incite violence. I read that the FBI has a concern about LE being infiltrated by white supremacists. There are some photos at the link.
http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-trump-rally-20170326-story.html

[SunSeeker]

11. K & R for exposure.

[jalan48]

12. I remember seeing a lot of bikers in HB when I visited there years ago.

It struck me then that the town was more than just a laid back surfer place.

[Mc Mike]

14. Did dRumpf's goonsquad fans attack the press and protestors

before or after they released the doves?

[JudyM]

15. Police confiscated a hammer and a tire iron. Wonder which side brought those?

Evil punks.

[yuiyoshida]

16. Video ビデオ (Bideo)

[R B Garr]

17. Huntington Beach is a well-known spot for Skinheads.

This is Orange County, after all, aka The Orange Curtain. They have been dissipating, lately, but still around. I can spot at least one doing some punching.

Huntington Beach was in the news last week when that waiter asked a group of Latinas to show proof of residency.

Good news--Hillary Clinton turned Orange County BLUE in this last election, the first time since WWII. RWers must still be ticked about that! Too bad.

edit, and hubby and I used to ride our bikes right there a lot, easy access, nice scenic riding, too crowded on the weekends, tho.