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

BERKELEY, CA — A violent protest that started at UC Berkeley over a planned speech by controversial right-wing columnist and speaker Milo Yiannopoulos has spread off campus into the city of Berkeley.

Police report, "We are now receiving reports that a group of hundreds are now walking southbound on Telegraph Avenue—approaching Channing Way. At this point, the Berkeley Police Department has received reports of at least 3-4 injuries from fights happening in the area as well as reports of some vandalism to businesses in the area."

Among the businesses hit was Bank of America.

The protest continued to wind through the city, with rioters vandalizing businesses.

Tweets about the destruction became more gleeful as the evening progressed.

Berkeley Police reported, "We are now receiving reports that persons are setting fires to banks in the area Center Street & Shattuck Avenue as well as more fighting in the crowds."

And the vandalism progressed to looting.

The protesters returned to campus, where they were met by a line of police.

Earlier, when the protest first began on campus, fires were set and property vandalized, police said. At one point, the crowd was estimated at 1,500.

University police issued a dispersal order.

Yiannopoulos posted a statement on Facebook. "I have been evacuated from the UC Berkeley campus after violent left-wing protestors tore down barricades, lit fires, threw rocks and Roman candles at the windows and breached the ground floor of the building," Yiannopoulos said.

"My team and I are safe. But the event has been cancelled. I'll let you know more when the facts become clear. One thing we do know for sure: the Left is absolutely terrified of free speech and will do literally anything to shut it down."

In a news release issued at 7:25 p.m., the university said, "Of paramount importance this evening was the campus’s commitment to ensure the safety and security of those attending the event, the speaker, those who came to engage in lawful protest, as well as members of the public and the Berkeley campus community.

"We condemn in the strongest possible terms the violence and unlawful behavior that was on display, and deeply regret that those tactics will now overshadow the efforts to engage in legitimate and lawful protest against the performer’s presence and perspectives."

The sold-out event was sponsored by Campus Republicans, who said they were promoting free speech by providing and alternate viewpoint.

"UC Berkeley" and "Milo" were the top two trending stories on Twitter Wednesday evening, with hundreds of thousands of tweets posted across the nation and some from overseas. Conservatives who blasted the protest far outnumbered supporters.

And one final thought:

Bay City News contributed to this article; Photos by Scott Morris, BCN