3 Arrested Following Laguna Beach Rally

LAGUNA BEACH, CA — What started as a peaceful, organized rally descended into a bit of chaos in Laguna Beach Sunday night, according to officials. Three people were arrested at the end of the America's First immigration rally due to several small skirmishes that spread out into the roadway.

Laguna Beach is a favorite spot to stroll the shops, visit the Pageant of the Masters and sight-see along southern California's golden coast. When this city was chosen as a rally battle ground for America's First immigration reform, it became one of the most tense spots in Orange County for the majority of the weekend.

Permitted organizers from America's First and counter-protest groups arrived in Laguna Beach at approximately 3 p.m., according to Laguna Beach Sgt. Jim Cota.

Demonstrations were reported as peaceful, however, it might have looked tense to those attempting to pass by on Pacific Coast Highway.

Attendees utilized their right to freedom of speech gathering initially on the issue of immigration reform, which was the purpose of the event, according to America's First organizers. Events in Charlottesville, VA and racism drew more crowds to the event which was the third of its kind in Laguna Beach over the past several weeks.

According to those present, the anti-rally protesters crowd was greater at the beginning of the day, carrying signs with slogans from Dr. Martin Luther King, and "Choose Love." A plane cruised the coastline during the day, with a banner that followed saying, "Hate is Beneath Us."

The Laguna Beach Police Department, Laguna Beach Fire Department, Laguna Beach Department of Public Works and allied agencies from multiple Orange County cities were on hand to lend support if needed. Barricades were established to keep a perimeter around rally attendees in advance preparation of the event.

At its height, the crowd grew to 2,500 at Main Beach at the end of the night, according to Cota.

"Three arrests were made, and at 9:30 p.m. an unlawful assembly was called due to the crowds not following police orders and running into the street," Cota said.

Protesters with bullhorns and chanting crowds rallied for and against illegal immigration in what was overwhelmingly a peaceful gathering, according to officials.

Toward the end of the rally, at approximately 9:30 p.m. there were reports of pushing and shoving, as attendees turned to violence in the street. An NBC4 interview showed protester Samaria Salazar, describing how she was pushed against a television truck and pepper sprayed during the event.

"They called me a Nazi, and pushed me into a truck, it's pretty intense, I got attacked several times, just because I was wearing my Trump shirt," she told reporters at the scene.

After the arrests, the crowd dispersed in a peaceful manner according to Cota.

The partner agencies who assisted include Orange County Sheriff's Department, California Highway Patrol, Irvine, Huntington Beach, Westminster, Anaheim, Newport Beach, Tustin, Santa Ana, UCI, Seal Beach, Fullerton, Fountain Valley, Orange, Costa Mesa, Garden Grove and San Diego Sheriff's and Police Department.

"Having appropriate personnel and resources to properly address a rally of this size is what made it successful," Cota said. "As always, it is the mission of our police department to allow for freedom of expression afforded through the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, as long as it is done in a peaceful and lawful manner."

On Saturday, a group of hundreds of Laguna Beach residents gathered to share what they called "Unity Ribbons" with the city, leaving their mark for rally goers and making their point of not being present at the Sunday rally.

"We would like to thank the Laguna Beach community for their continued and unwavering support during the preparation and execution of (Sunday's) events," Cota said.

Photo courtesy of Laguna Beach Police Department