California KKK Rally: 3 Stabbed, 12 Arrested In Anaheim

ANAHEIM, CA - Police arrested 12 people at a planned Ku Klux Klan rally in Anaheim where three people were stabbed Saturday, police said.

Police had received information about a group of counter-protesters planning to stage a demonstration at Pearson Park, where a planned KKK rally was being held. According to police, the counter-protesters were getting ready to leave the area around 12:10 p.m. when a group of six KKK members arrived for the rally.

Initial reports indicated the counter-protesters immediately attacked the six KKK members, police said.

A melee erupted on the block, according to Anaheim police Sgt. Daron Wyatt. One of the counter-protesters was stabbed with the decorative end of a flagpole, police said. The victim was rushed to the hospital in critical condition. His condition has since been upgraded to stable. Wyatt said he did not know the type of flag used in the alleged stabbing.

A KKK member was seen standing next to a second stabbing victim with a knife in his hand. Police said he admitted to stabbing the counter-protestor but said he acted in self defense. A third stabbing victim was found in a car on the east side of the park, police said. Both victims are said to be in stable condition.

Two KKK members were stomped on by counter-protestors, one of whom complained of having broken ribs, police said.

A total of 12 people were arrested including seven counter-protestors and five KKK members. Among the counter- protesters, six of them are male and one female. Five KKK members were male and one is a female. All stabbing victims were reported to be males.

All KKK members were arrested on suspicion on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon for the stabbing incidents. The counter-protestors were arrested were arrested on suspicion of assault with force likely to cause great bodily injury. After investigating, police released four of the arrestees.

Police earlier said six KKK members had been arrested.

The incident remains under investigation.

Anyone with cellphone video of the incident is asked to contact Orange County Crime Stoppers at (855) TIP-OCCS. Police are also seeking the public’s help in identifying a suspect wanted on suspicion of assault with force likely to cause great bodily injury.

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