Pro-Trump march and protesters clash in…
Pro-Trump march and protesters clash in Huntington Beach as police move in
Liz McCright of Winchester drove two hours to participate in the march: "I'm not worried about Russia and all that controversy because it's all fake news spread by the Democrats to take the attention away from real issues," she said. "I don't trust Comey or the media. I just trust the president who gave up a beautiful life to do a horrible job. I wouldn't be here if I thought he was a fake or phony."
By Deepa Bharath | dbharath@scng.com | Orange County Register
PUBLISHED: March 25, 2017 at 4:30 pm | UPDATED: August 28, 2017 at 5:43 am
HUNTINGTON BEACH >> Fights broke out and police moved in at a "Make America Great Again" march in support of Pres. Trump that drew hundreds of people to Bolsa Chica State Beach, including protesters.
The clashes were immediately documented on social media, but details about how the fights started and any arrests were sketchy.
Earlier, the organizers of the MAGA march said they were hoping for peace.
"I'm not just here in support of Trump, but our vets, military, police officers and emergency responders," said Darlene Savord of Tustin, one of the organizers, adding, "I don't blame Trump for the failure of the health care bill."
• Related story: Pro-Trump 'Make America Great' LA rally draws supporters to Hollywood
The march was billed as a kid-friendly family-oriented event and at one point was a sea of waving American flags. But it takes place in a climate where stark divisions in the public have led to a number of high-profile confrontations when supporters and detractors of the president collide.
March organizer Jennifer Sterling said many participants were women, children and elderly. "I really hope these people are safe," she said.
Their plan: Rally near Warner Avenue and PCH, then walk along a roughly two-mile stretch of the bike path.
Organizers of a counter rally said they would create a "human wall" to prevent that.
"We aren't going to start fights, but we are going to try to stop them from completing their march," said Byron Lopez, a counter rally organizer who expected 100 to 200 supporters from an array of groups.
The Trump-resistant Indivisible OC 48, meanwhile, released a statement saying they would not join any counter protest to the MAGA march at Bolsa Chica.
"Indivisible OC 48 believes that the most effective way to combat an agenda built on discrimination and divisiveness is to focus on our own positive and peaceful political actions, and not to engage in confrontations with other citizens exercising their rights to free speech," the group said.
The Indivisibles have been calling on Republican Congress members nationwide to hold town hall meetings so they can express concerns with Trump's policies and appointments.
The local "Make America Great Again" march coincides with a nationwide effort.
In Huntington Beach, some marchers wore t-shirts saying, "Deplorable lives matter," a reference to a description Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton used to refer to Trump supporters during the presidential campaign.
"We need balance in our country and the best way is to unite under one leadership," said Irvine resident Mario Medina, who was wearing a Trump t-shirt. "He's not a politician, that's what I like about him."
Medina said he's not discouraged by the administration's health care defeat.
"There's going to be bumps along the road," he said. "Obamacare is going to go down and ruin a lot of lives. If anyone is going to fix Obamacare, President Trump is the man to do it."
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Deepa Bharath
Deepa Bharath covers religion for The Orange County Register and the Southern California Newspaper Group. Her work is focused on how religion, race and ethnicity shape our understanding of what it is to be American and how religion in particular helps influence public policies, laws and a region's culture. Deepa also writes about race, cultures and social justice issues. She has covered a number of other beats ranging from city government to breaking news for the Register since May 2006. She has received fellowships from the International Women's Media Foundation and the International Center for Journalists to report stories about reconciliation, counter-extremism and peace-building efforts around the world. When she is not working, she loves listening to Indian classical music and traveling with her husband and son.
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