Pro-Trump protesters rallied against sanctuary cities in Huntington Beach and anti-Trump protesters were there to show solidarity against the far-right
The dual rallies took place on April 27 near Huntington Beach Pier, and about 200 total people attended, with about 100 people showing up on both sides.
The originally announced rally, “March to End Sanctuary State”, was planned by the far-right protesters who were there to show solidarity with the idea of ending city and state practices of sheltering illegal immigrants from ICE and other immigration enforcement.
Once gathered, the far-right protesters marched a few blocks down Pacific Coast Highway, and back up the other side.
The counter rally, “All Out to Oppose Hatred and White Supremacy”, was organized by two groups, Indivisible: OC and Occupy ICE L.A., and they attended to show support of California Senate Bill 54, which would legalize statewide non-cooperation policies between law enforcement and immigration authorities.
Lulu Hammad, a member of Indivisible: OC summed up their reason for the counter rally.
“We want people from OC, people from Huntington Beach are defending SB 54. This is for us, it protects our own communities to have sanctuary cities, and we’re not going to let a bunch of Nazis and white supremacists who are drenched in nativist ideology, come and put our own people at risk,” Hammad said.
“We’re not going to put up with that.”
Kenny Strawn, a Trump supporter, believes that many people on the pro-SB 54 are misinformed about the goals of the pro-Trump side.
“They (pro-SB 54 side) assumes that everyone that climbs over the border
“They’re cutting in front of those that are coming in the right way … that are using proper channels.”
“They have no understanding of the difference between immigration or invasion,” Strawn added.
“When they’re (migrants) climbing over border walls, when they’re trying to break in, that’s not immigration, that’s burglary.”
While Strawn was out there trying to promote a nuanced perspective of the difference between legal and illegal immigrants, there were plenty of people on the pro-Trump side who were completely opposed to immigration of all kinds, legal or not.
Shannel Pittman, a eco Socialist Greens Outreach co-chair, says, that the majority of people who immigrate to California have a right to do so based on an old treaty.
“I know the history of California, and the treaty that made California part of America specifically stated that the descendants of the people from the original land that was California are allowed to come freely across the border whenever they want,” Pittman said.
“The Green party supports the notion of sanctuary cities.”
Violence at the
The YouTuber walked into the crowd of left leaning protesters to challenge their stance on immigration, police warned him that he was instigating, and when he still refused to leave the area, a scuffle broke out leaving people with only minor injuries.
Five arrests were made at the event, mostly related to the violent incident that had taken place just before.