Got into arguments and fights, punches were thrown during heat confrontations. Abc7 News Reporter cornell bernard is live in berkeley with more. Reporter hi, eric. Birthplace of the Free Speech Movement certainly saw a lot of free speech today and violent clashes were not far behind. Civic center park, virtually empty tonight. What a difference from what we saw hours ago when thousands showed up to demonstrate. Sky 7 was overhead as todays rally spiralled into violence. A group dressed in black attacked another group near the park. Even though a plan antimarxist rally was canceled, thousands converged on civic park, sparking confrontation between the left and the right. You kill nazis and you callmy nazis is like calling me the n word. They bring violence with them. I dont want it here. What do very with to do to get niece people out . Reporter Berkeley Police vowed to arrest anyone who brought items into the rally, which could be used as a weapon. Police arrested many. We witnessed th
Reporter Berkeley Police vowed to arrest anyone who brought items into the rally, which could be used as a weapon. Police arrested many. We witnessed this protester being tackled. Ive taken on the altright title, i guess. Reporter rightwing protester Johnny Benitez from california says he came to berkeley for peaceful dialogue but got shouted down by the crowd. Things got so heat, benitez and his friends were escorted out of the park by police. We were just standing there talking to people. People in masks showed up, trying to drag me out to the middle. They wanted to beat they wanted to kill me. Reporter violent clashes went on for several hours. Police dispersed smoke canisters to disperse the crowd. Later in the day thousands more marched in the park, a peaceful counterdemonstration. We just checked with Berkeley Police, 13 people were arrested today. The ap reporting tonight that Patriot Prayer founder joey gibson showed up today and was chased and pepper sprayed by counterdemonstr