UC Berkeley Sustains $100,000 Damage From Rioters

BERKELEY, CA — Rioters inflicted more than $100,000 in damage to US Berkeley Wednesday night, and that doesn't count the damage done to businesses off campus.

Berkeley Mayor Jesse Arreguin blamed Wednesday's riot at UC Berkeley and the destruction and looting of downtown businesses on masked agitators who infiltrated the crowd.

In a statement released Thursday, Arreguin said,"Unfortunately, last night, a small minority of the protesters who had assembled in opposition to a speaking engagement featuring a prominent white nationalist engaged in violence and property damage.

"They also provided the ultra-nationalist far right exactly the images they want to use to try to discredit the vast majority of peaceful protesters in Berkeley and across America who are deeply concerned about where our country is headed," Arreguin said.

See: Rioters Damage Property At UC Berkeley, Downtown Berkeley, Paint 'Kill Trump' Graffiti

The protesters set fires and smashed windows on the UC Berkeley campus to disrupt a scheduled appearance by Milo Yiannopoulos, a far right writer. His sold-out appearance was canceled by the university over safety concerns. Some people who had planned to attend the speaking engagement were physically attacked.

When the protesters moved off campus into downtown Berkeley, in addition to smashing windows and spray painting graffiti on businesses, a Starbucks was looted.

John Caner, CEO of the Downtown Berkeley Association, said that at least 10 businesses were damaged

According to witnesses, some of the black-clad protesters tried to intimidate bystanders who snapped photos of the destruction, slapping phones out of people's hands and pushing them away.

See: President Trump Threatens UC Berkeley Funds Following Riot

-Bay City News Contributed to the article; Photo by Scott Morris, BCN