KKK members released after Anaheim rally arrests

A Ku Klux Klan stabbing occurred at a weekend brawl in Anaheim, California, but five Klan members among the 12 people arrested were released from jail on Sunday after authorities determined they were acting in self-defense, reported KTLA-TV. At one point, someone was stabbed with the end of a flagpole.

Several fights broke out along a city block involving six KKK members – none wearing the traditional KKK robes – and 30 counterprotesters. Five people were injured and 13 people arrested.

Two of the stomped Klansmen were taken from the scene for hospital treatment, Wyatt said. The arrested Klan member said he stabbed the protester in self defense.

A Klan rally in California on Saturday quickly became the site of violent stabbings when a group of up to 20 protesters arrived with the “intent of perpetrating violence” on six Klansmen.

But the final tally from the Klan rally now stands at seven counter-demonstrators (including the youngster) being held, with one unidentified Mark Henry-looking brother still wanted in connection with the fight.

Anaheim’s KKK faction insisted that their gathering was meant to be a peaceful demonstration against “illegal immigration and Muslims” and described the actions of Klan members as self-defense.

Levin, the director of CSUSB’s Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism, was reportedly at the protest to conduct research, and to ask the Klansmen who they were supporting for president.

“It’s their way of saying, ‘We have no reason to believe there will be any trouble beyond the trouble you get at a rock concert”, he said. “There were no police officers here when this started happening”, he said. Kielty said his clients were attempting to detain a klansman who had stabbed another protester and that police mistook them for aggressors when they were arrested on suspicion of elder abuse. In comparison, five male and one female member of the Ku Klux Klan group were arrested.

In Sunday’s statement, Anaheim police added, “Regardless of an individual or groups’ beliefs or ideologies, they are entitled to live without the fear of physical violence and have the right, under the law, to defend themselves when attacked”. “Additional units continued arriving over the next few minutes, ” Wyatt said.

“We’re a far cry from those bad times and the Klan is really an anachronism”, Levin said. One suspect is still being sought in connection with the violence. Seven people still in custody were seen beating, stomping and attacking the Klansmen with wooden posts, police Sgt. Daron Wyatt said.