LAPD arrests dozens and fires rubber bullets after being attacked during violent transgender rights protest where members of Proud Boys and Antifa clashed outside of a Koreatown spa
Los Angeles police arrested dozens of people during a transgender rights protest and fired non-lethal projectiles to disperse the unruly mob that turned violent when Proud Boys and Antifa members clashed outside of a Koreatown spa.
LAPD said in a statement on Twitter that smoke bombs and other projectiles were thrown at officers trying to break up the crowd, and stun guns, knives and pepper spray were confiscated.
Videos emerged on social media showing police in full riot gear pushing protesters back with batons. Another video shows an officer firing a rubber bullet at someone from close range.
The videos don't include any information about what happened before or after the incidents. DailyMail.com left messages for Los Angeles police for more information.
Another video shows buildings covered in graffiti, and a Guardian reporter covering the protest claimed that she was shoved to the ground and attacked by a right-wing extremist who she was trying to interview.
'Just got thrown to the ground by right-wing anti-pedophile protesters as a crowd converged on me and chased me,' Guardian reporter Lois Beckett said on Twitter with a video of the assault.
'They threw water at me and screamed about Jesus and said to grab my phone. Police would not let me through the police line but after I got thrown on the ground they did.'
Officers fired rubber bullets to disperse the unruly crowd. A video shows one person being hit in the stomach
A protester hit in the stomach with a rubber bullet crumbles to the ground
Police are seen attacking protesters, who threw things like smoke bombs at officers, according to the LAPD
Police were seen in videos hitting protesters with batons
LAPD released this statement on Twitter along with pictures of what was confiscated
The free-for-all scene that played out in downtown LA stemmed from a video that was posted on Instagram earlier this month of an irate customer complaining to Wi Spa staff that a transgender woman was in the women's section of the spa.
The Instagram user - 'cubanaangel' - ranted to staff for over three minutes.
'Wi Spa allows a man into women's wet spa section where all the women are naked, mothers with their young daughters and teens,' 'cubanaangel' wrote.
'The Wi Spa allowed the man access just because he calls himself a woman. This man was naked exposing his testicles and penis slinging left to right in front of young girls, teens and grown women. What is our world coming to.'
The video sparked controversy after the spa defended its policy of allowing transgender customers in its facilities.
'Cubanaangel' wrote this post to go with the Instagram video that was posted earlier this month. It's gained traction in recent weeks and sparked outrage and the protest on Saturday
Police declared an unlawful assembly in front of the spa in Koreatown around 11 am Saturday when demonstrators against transgender access to the spa's facilities clashed with counter protesters.
Det. Meghan Aguilar, a spokeswoman for the LAPD, didn't have an immediate arrest count because authorities were still processing the people who were arrested and screening to see if anyone needed medical treatment.
She said no officer was injured and no protester was transported to hospitals.
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