Free Republic

More than three years after a political rally and counter-protest turned violent in the streets of Pacific Beach, a trial linked to that bloody day began Tuesday in San Diego Superior Court in what extremism experts have described as the first ever prosecution alleging an “antifa” conspiracy. A prosecutor told the jury during opening statements that the two trial defendants, Brian Cortez Lightfoot, 27, and Jeremy Jonathan White, 41, were self-described anti-fascists who showed up prepared to attack their political enemies at the Jan. 9, 2021, “Patriot March” organized by supporters of then-outgoing President Donald Trump. Defense attorneys told the...

While Jan 6 dominates the media from cable news to the press headlines, far from Washington D.C. the violence of Jan 9 recently led to the first conspiracy indictment of Antifa rioters. The violent clashes at a Pro-Trump rally in San Diego on Jan 9, 2021 were more of what Americans had been forced to accept as the new normal over the last six years. Just more of those “mostly peaceful protests”. The fighting near Crystal Pier at Pacific Beach saw police officers being hit with rocks and glass bottles. Store windows were broken and five police officers suffered injuries...

Black-clad counterprotesters fight a woman on the boardwalk near Crystal Pier in Pacific Beach during pro-Trump Patriot March In this Jan. 9 file photo, black-clad counterprotesters fight with a woman on the boardwalk south of Crystal Pier in Pacific Beach during a pro-Trump “Patriot March.” (Nelvin C. Cepeda - U-T file) At least 11 anti-fascists face counts based on conspiracy to commit a riot; they’re also charged with assaults and using tear gas SAN DIEGO — Prosecutors on Monday charged at least seven people, whom they described as self-identified anti-fascists, in connection with eight alleged assaults that occurred in January...