Fight Between Far Right Group, 'Anti-Fascist' Protesters Leaves Several Stabbed Outside Calif. State Capitol
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (CBSNewYork/CBS News/CBS Sacramento/AP) -- Multiple people were hospitalized with stab wounds after a clash between members of right-wing extremist groups and "anti-fascists" outside the California State Capitol in Sacramento, authorities said.
Authorities say a total of 10 people were taken to the hospital.
The Sacramento Fire Department says the injured included nine men and one woman ranging from 19 to 58 years old. At least five suffered stab wounds.
California Highway Patrol Officer George Granada says about 30 members of the Traditionalist Worker Party gathered at the Capitol for a rally when they were met by about 400 counter-protesters and a fight broke out around noon Sunday.
Fire officials said on Twitter that the protesters have cleared from the Capitol about three hours after the chaos began.
Coverage From CBS Sacramento
Fire officials said on Twitter that the protesters cleared from the Capitol about three hours after the chaos began.
The injured victims were all present while the protest took place, said Sacramento Police spokesman Matt McPhail.
He said it was still unclear whether and how they were involved.
The Traditionalist Workers Party had scheduled and received a permit to protest at noon Sunday in front of the Capitol.
Matthew Heimbach, chairman of the Traditionalist Worker Party, tells the Los Angeles Times that his group and the Golden State Skinheads organized the Sunday rally.
Vice chairman Matt Parrott, who was not present at the Sacramento rally, says it was a peaceful march and blamed "leftist radicals" for instigating the violence.
Heimbach says that in the clash, one of their marchers had been stabbed in an artery and six of the "anti-fascists" had also been stabbed.
The Southern Poverty Law Center has described TWP as a group formed in 2015 as the political wing of the Traditionalist Youth Network, which aims to "indoctrinate high school and college students into white nationalism."
In a post on their website TWP described the gathering as their "Thermopylae," in reference to the infamous Greek battle site where a small Spartan force stood up to a massive Persian army.
They claimed the purpose of their gathering was a "protest against globalization and in defense of the right to free expression."
The Bay Area Independent reports "members of the Traditionalist Workers Party, Golden State Skinheads, Blood & Honor, National Socialist Movement and Ku Klux Klan," had all planned to attend.
Anti-fascist groups organized a counter-protest, which they said was aimed to shut down the "Nazi mega-rally."
The victims' conditions were unclear late Sunday.
(TM and © Copyright 2016 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2016 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
