Pomona
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Members of the neo-Nazi group known as the National Socialist Movement showed up in Pomona, California to protest against illegal immigration and what they call civil rights violations against the white race. They were met with 200 counter-protesters.
The group from the National Socialist Movement (NSM) wanted to protest in support of their campaign to "reclaim the Southwest" from illegal immigrants and other people who are non-Caucasian. NBC Los Angeles quoted from the group's website:
"Pomona is a unique gathering place of continuing tension between ethnic minorities, such as Hispanics and Blacks."
The group also says that Pomona has become a sanctuary for illegal immigrants.
Cops in riot gear were present to avoid any physical altercations between the NSM and the counter-protesters. They closed part of Mission Blvd. in front of the city hall building to traffic and blocked off a reserved section of sidewalk where the NSM gathered to give their speeches.
Cops in riot gear preparing to take action if needed.
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The NSM members convened in front of Pomona City Hall located in the San Gabriel Valley, just east of Los Angeles, at around 2:00 pm Saturday afternoon.
As the NSM members were first arriving to the site, a group of counter-demonstrators who were instructed to stay on the other side of the street decided to disobey police orders and attempted to run across and approach the group.
The video below shows the mayhem that ensued as the NSM first arrived. They were carrying their NSM flags as well as American flags. Some counter-protesters picked up parking cones from the road meant to serve as blockades and hurled them at the group. Police demanded that people return to the other side of the street or face arrest.
Members of the neo-Nazi group spoke using a PA system to address the crowd as they displayed their flags and gave the Nazi salute.
Counter-protesters were ordered to stay on the other side of the street from the NSM. Many of them displayed signs, and some wore distinctive shirts to show their disapproval of the NSM's views. There were also some in the group who covered most of their faces with handkerchiefs so as not to be easily identified if they were to get involved in rioting.
Police on horseback stayed near the counter-protesters to make sure they didn't try to cross the street and attack the NSM.
At one point, though, a man who had covered his face ran out onto the street in an area that was not being watched as carefully. He managed to grab a handful of manure that was left by the cops' horses and through it over the police barricade that stood in front of the NSM. A few of the manure droppings appeared to land on some of the NSM members. Surprisingly, police were unable to catch the man, who quickly bolted from the scene.
Police officers on horseback stand in front of the group of counter-protesters to prevent them from running across the street to attack the NSM.
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The NSM members finally left after only about an hour after they arrived. As they were leaving, counter-protesters were trying to follow them, but the police made sure to block them from approaching the NSM.
Many of the counter-protesters felt that the police were too protective of the NSM, and some were brazen enough to stand up to officers as the NSM were leaving. Some people even began throwing rocks at the cops on horseback. The cops began pushing people back from the barricade they had created for the NSM to leave the area safely.
One man in particular made his stance clear.
Surprisingly, no arrests or injuries were reported from the event.
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