Observers and at least one city official publicly decried the violence that left one man hospitalized with stab wounds following dueling demonstrations in downtown Los Angeles on both sides of the contentious issue of mandatory vaccinations against the coronavirus.
Veteran reporter Frank Stoltze of KPCC and LAist was also attacked in the park area outside Los Angeles City Hall. It was unclear who attacked Stoltze, but LAPD Capt. Stacy Spell told Los Angeles Times reporters at the scene that a police report had been taken.
“These aren’t ‘patriots,’ ” Los Angeles City Council President Nury Martinez said in a statement late Saturday about those protesting against vaccines and other preventative measures recommended to stop the spread of COVID-19. “Not wearing a mask and being anti-vax isn’t patriotism – it’s stupidity. We have to be able to have differences of opinions without resorting to violence. Attacking counter-protesters and journalists has no place in a democracy and certainly no place in Los Angeles.”
One hour and a city street were not enough to keep pro-vaccination protestors and counter-protestors apart Saturday on the south lawn at Los Angeles City Hall.
Supporters of mandatory vaccinations, which are increasingly being required, gathered at 1 p.m. Saturday for a “No Safe Space For Fascists” rally, followed one hour later by a “Choose Freedom March” against so-called “medical tyranny.” Video from the scene showed the anti-vaccination crowd yelling at the other side across First Street — some of whom were filming the demonstration — then attacking them, hollering among other things, “Unmask them!”
Late in the afternoon, the LAPD declared an unlawful assembly, according to media reports. ABC7 also reported that the Proud Boys group participated in the anti-vaccine demonstration.
The department said no arrests had been made but an investigation was ongoing.
“We are aware of one male that was stabbed and is being treated by LAFD,” the Los Angeles Police Department tweeted at 3:15 p.m. Saturday.
Firefighters also responded to the gatherings.
“We made one transport to a hospital (from the demonstrations) but I don’t have any patient condition information,” Los Angeles Fire Department spokeswoman Margaret Stewart said.
The wounded man collapsed at the intersection of First and Spring streets after being stabbed and at least one LAPD officer was seen trying to stop his bleeding before firefighters arrived, the Los Angeles Times reported. The injured man was a reportedly a member of the anti-vaccine group, the newspaper said, adding that he was transported to a hospital in serious condition.
Stoltze later posted a message on Twitter saying, “Something happened to me today that’s never happened in 30 years of reporting. I was shoved, kicked and my eyeglasses were ripped off my face by a group of guys at a protest outside City Hall during an anti-vax, recall Gavin Newsom and pro-Trump rally.”
Others on Twitter claimed the LAPD did not manage the situation as aggressively as they do other types of protests.
“The LAPD are not serving or protecting the community today,” actress Rosanna Arquette tweeted. “They apparently are there to serve and protect violent Proud Boys and attack journalists. Dangerous supremacists have infiltrated the force. This is a big problem.”
“LAPD allowed multiple attacks to happen while they and everyone else on Twitter has real-time access to video documentation of the attacks and who did them,” LCRWnews tweeted.
While some blamed Proud Boys “agitators,” others cited “Antifa rioters.”
“We are on scene to maintain order after a fight broke out between Antifa and people gathered for the permitted event,” the LAPD posted on Instagram. “No arrests have been made but investigation is ongoing.”
Saturday’s rallies came as vaccine mandates continue to proliferate across California.
The Los Angeles City Council voted last week to have the city attorney draw up an ordinance requiring proof of at least partial vaccination to enter many public indoor spaces in the city, including restaurants, bars, gyms, concert venues, movie theaters and retail establishments.
The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors is gathering advice from experts over the next two weeks for a possible similar mandate.
On Friday, interim Superintendent Megan K. Reilly announced that all Los Angeles Unified School District employees will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by Oct. 15. The district previously mandated only weekly testing for all students and staffers, regardless of vaccination status. That testing requirement will remain in place.
Gov. Gavin Newsom on Wednesday announced a statewide requirement for all teachers and school employees in the state to show proof of COVID-19 vaccination or submit to weekly testing. The Long Beach Unified School District, the second-largest district in Los Angeles County, announced the same policy last week.
Los Angeles County is requiring its employees to get vaccinated, and many large private employers are doing the same.
And AEG, owner of many of the Southland’s major concert venues, said Thursday that fans will have to be vaccinated to attend shows at its facilities, including the Roxy, the El Rey Theatre, the Fonda Theatre, the Shrine Auditorium and the Coachella Music & Arts Festival in Indio.