In an unprecedented act of barbarity, seven people were left injured, two critically, after a stabbing spree was carried out during a neo-Nazi rally in Sacramento, California on Sunday, The Times of Israel reported.
At least 30 members of the Traditionalist Worker Party (TWP), had gathered for a noon rally to protest against globalization and in defense of their right to free expression at the state’s capitol building when approximately 400 counter-protesters stormed the area provoking a fight between the two groups, said California Highway Patrol Officer George Granada.
7 hospitalized; multiple stabbings after clashes at neo-Nazi rally in Sacramento. pic.twitter.com/ZCZsJ1jh5x
— Fox News (@FoxNews) June 26, 2016
The Southern Poverty Law Center has described TWP as the political wing of the Traditionalist Youth Network (TYN), a group that aims to “indoctrinate high school and college students into white nationalism.”
Despite having scheduled and received a permit to protest, rally participants still anticipated counter-protesters to demonstrate against the TWP members. In a post recently uploaded on the TYN’s site, the group even predicted they would be outnumbered 10-to-1.
Insane video. Crowd sees any signs of “Nazis” and they run&attack. A lot of people bleeding/getting maced. @ABC10 pic.twitter.com/PoFhILfZ95
— Frances Wang (@ABC10Frances) June 26, 2016
Though the TWP rally goers intended a peaceful protest, they were met with brutal acts of violence instigated and carried out by “leftist radicals,” according to TWP Vice chairman Matt Parrott, who did not attend the Sacramento rally.
Several videos from the clashes which were posted on social media showed police officers attempting to disperse a group of people, mainly youth, some of whom had their faces covered, while others are seen throwing stones at a man who is holding a stick while being shielded by police officers dressed in riot gear, reported The Times of Israel.
#DEVELOPING: At least 6 stabbed outside #California Capitol after right-wing group clashes with counter-protesters. https://t.co/GiuMtwpcq0
— WSVN 7 News (@wsvn) June 26, 2016
The local fire department tweeted that some of the patients who were immediately hospitalized had “critical trauma stab wounds.” While it was unclear at the time to which group the wounded belonged, Matthew Heimbach, chairman of the Traditionalist Worker Party, has since told the Los Angeles Times that one of their marchers had been stabbed in an artery, while the other six who were wounded were from the group of counter-protesters
According to Officer Granada, for three hours after the fight, the Capitol was put on lockdown, but by then the situation had, for the most part, calmed down and approximately only 70 of the counter protesters remained in the area.
Horrifying…Blood spatters all over the ground. Police trying to control crowds. @ABC10 pic.twitter.com/aPtjTAO6pj
— Frances Wang (@ABC10Frances) June 26, 2016
As of Sunday afternoon, no arrests had been made, said Officer Granada.
