Rally Turns Violent In SF; Left and Right Wing Protestors Clash

SAN FRANCISCO, CA — A right-wing rally to advocate for free speech and protest censorship on Twitter escalated to violence Saturday. The protest gathered a small group at the United Nations Plaza and Twitter headquarters, but was quickly intercepted by hundreds more left-wing counter-protesters, according to multiple reports.

About a dozen pro-Trump demonstrators were met by several hundred counter-protesters, the Associated Press reported. Organizers had a permit for the planned rally at the UN Plaza, the San Francisco Parks & Recreation department told ABC7.

The protest, organized by Philip Anderson for #TeamSaveAmerica, had planned to rally against Twitter and other big tech companies for censorship and restricting right-wing voices on social media, according to Anderson's Twitter.

The event was scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. but the group of protestors were quickly met by hundreds of counter protestors.

Anderson was seen being punched in the face by a counter protestor in a video posted on Twitter Saturday afternoon.

He later tweeted a photo of his bloodied mouth with the caption: "Antifa attacked me for no reason."

Philip Anderson, a free speech rally leader, punched by counter protester and pushed back into barricaded area at UN Plaza in SF. Rally has not started yet. #ProudBoys #SanFrancisco pic.twitter.com/NcNopIyDAX
— Denis Ivan Perez (@dpi_19) October 17, 2020

Several videos circulating on Twitter show police setting up barricades and trying to control hundreds of protestors.

Police work to keep a crowd behind barricades at what organizers are calling a free speech rally in San Francisco. https://t.co/4hruHMd3Pk pic.twitter.com/VC94rXn2Um
— Kristofer Noceda (@krisnoceda) October 17, 2020

More footage on Twitter Saturday showed crowds pushing and shoving.

(Warning: the Twitter video embedded below contains violence and profanities)

Another rally member pushed to ground, surrounded by counter protesters dressed in black, then heads to police line seeking help. pic.twitter.com/tLIPRgDP0M
— Mallory Moench (@mallorymoench) October 17, 2020

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