Pro-Trump Berkeley protests get physical

A rally in support of President Trump on Saturday got heated, and in some instances physical, when anti-Trump protesters faced off with pro-Trump demonstrators, according to local news reports.

According to the San Francisco Chronicle, scattered fights erupted involving participants in the “March-4-Trump” event and counter protests.

The rally started in the early afternoon at the Martin Luther King Jr. Civic Center Park near the UC Berkeley campus, with fighting reportedly starting even earlier.

{mosads}Punches were thrown and blue smoke bombs reportedly went off. Hundreds were at the park, according to reports, though it was unclear the total number who turned up representing each side of the event.

A large number of police officers were spotted monitoring the event.

Lots of people prematurely firing pepper spray. (Wait for it). pic.twitter.com/goAm7JkORU

— Lizzie Johnson (@lizziejohnsonnn) March 4, 2017 

Brief fight broke out at #march4trump in Berkeley as demonstrators and counter protesters converge. Smoke bomb off. pic.twitter.com/lTtIbtYL3a

— Pamela Larson (@PamReporting) March 4, 2017

Guy on ground chased after someone after fight, Berkeley Police weren’t having it. pic.twitter.com/kCnSY1uy6G

— Gillian Edevane (@GillianNBC) March 4, 2017

Berkeley police fixing injured pic.twitter.com/NgtlUQH2LY

— Gillian Edevane (@GillianNBC) March 4, 2017

@berkeleyside you proud of that Berkeley? This is what they did to this poor elderly man pic.twitter.com/D4row2StaM

— God Empress Jenny (@JennyRussellAJB) March 4, 2017

Fighting breaks out at pro-Trump event in Berkeley before event even begins. via @lizziejohnsonnn https://t.co/Pmfnaij8R8 pic.twitter.com/FHoEpc3RNz

— SFChronicle (@sfchronicle) March 4, 2017

Protesters are getting pepper sprayed by opposing protesters #March4Trump #berkeley @rhollister57 pic.twitter.com/bOpeCqIGKN

— ((((Hawks)))) (@rhollister57) March 4, 2017

#MAGA hat burning in Berkeley. pic.twitter.com/mhfauDtd3K

— Gillian Edevane (@GillianNBC) March 4, 2017

The #Trump rally in Berkeley has broken out in violence four minutes before the march is supposed to start. pic.twitter.com/NJ4HWjh06P

— Lizzie Johnson (@lizziejohnsonnn) March 4, 2017