Anarchists Attack Protesters in Berkeley as Police Back Off

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Violence erupted Sunday when left-wing protesters surrounded and attacked at least five right-wing demonstrators in Berkeley.

Black-clad anarchists stormed into what had been a largely peaceful Berkeley protest against hate and attacked at least five people, including the leader of a politically conservative group who had canceled an earlier event amid fears of violence.

The group of more than 100 hooded protesters, ironically carrying shields with the words "no hate" and waving a flag identifying themselves as anarchists, were allowed in by police who then basically left the scene.

Berkeley police chief Andrew Greenwood defended how police handled the protest, saying they made a “strategic decision to let the anarchists enter to avoid more violence.”

Corrie O'Connor