On the morning of May 31, 2020, just six days after Minneapolis Police murdered George Floyd, protestors gathered at the intersection of Pacific Coast Highway and Main Street in Huntington Beach, California in a show of solidarity with the national fight against police brutality.
By 11:00am, two considerable crowds had gathered. The majority of the protestors stood in front of the pier and chanted in support of Black Lives Matter and called for the arrest and conviction of the officers involved in Floyd's death.
Across the intersection, a large group of counter-protestors had gathered claiming to be protecting the city from potential rioting despite it being peaceful gathering and consistent police presence in the area since morning. Many of these counter-protestors donned mouth guards and combat gloves along with other military-like gear.
For about an hour these groups exchanged arguments, both collected and heated, with little non-verbal conflict. Just a few minutes after noon, the anti-police brutality protestors decided to begin their march down Main Street.
As the two groups met each other on the crosswalk between Jack's Surf Shop and Huntington Surf and Sport, individual altercations began to pop off like fireworks.
Despite witnessing these physical altercations, police nearby remained still and did not respond. After some people left the crowd hurt, the anti-police protestors retreated back across the street to their original position and the police line moved in from the Southeast, blocking the intersection.
After holding their line for 30 minutes, the police began pushing the protestors back by firing pepper pellets and rubber bullets in the direction of the crowd. The counter protestors were not fired upon despite their antagonistic behavior. Multiple assault charges were filed against members of the counter-protest group in the days following.
Full Gallery
A white pride tattoo seen on a counter-protestor
A scuffle breaks out between protestors and counter-protestors
A scuffle breaks out between protestors and counter-protestors
