Scuffle at pro-Trump rally in Huntington Beach leaves 2 injured

On Saturday — two days after a grand jury indicted former President Trump, securing his place in historical past as the primary former U.S. president to face felony fees — a small group of supporters gathered in Orange County to protest the indictment.

Throughout the gathering close to the Huntington Seashore Pier on Saturday afternoon, the group of roughly 40 folks flew “Make America Nice Once more” flags and chanted “God bless Trump!” At one level, two demonstrators have been hit on their heads with skateboards throughout a conflict.

As a result of the indictment stays sealed, the exact felony fees aren’t but clear, however the investigation introduced to the grand jury in New York targeted on Trump’s alleged function in a scheme to pay hush cash to grownup movie star Stormy Daniels through the closing push of his 2016 marketing campaign.

The indictment marks solely one of many potential authorized issues for Trump, who has declared that he’ll search the presidency once more in 2024. He additionally faces investigations into his alleged involvement in 2020 election interference by his supporters and the Jan. 6, 2021, assault on the U.S. Capitol, in addition to his dealing with of categorized paperwork after leaving workplace.

Attorneys for the previous president mentioned in a press release that their consumer didn’t commit any crimes and Republican allies have portrayed Manhattan Dist. Atty. Alvin Bragg, whose workplace introduced the case to the grand jurors, as a far-left prosecutor working to make sure that Trump gained’t get elected in 2024.

Professional-Trump demonstrators rally in Huntington Seashore.

(Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Occasions)

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After he was indicted, Trump — who is predicted to be arraigned on Tuesday — put out a press release characterizing the indictment as “Political Persecution” and a “Witch-Hunt” fueled by “Radical Left Democrats.”

A number of the demonstrators on Saturday echoed such language, referring to what they known as a “pretend indictment” and “only a sham.”

A couple of minutes after midday, two demonstrators have been hit with skateboards. One of many victims — a person who had been main the chants — was bleeding from the top however ambulatory. The opposite refused to present his identify to a Occasions reporter.

Huntington Seashore police initially detained two males on the scene. Huntington Seashore Police Division spokesperson Jessica Cuchilla mentioned one particular person was taken into custody.

She mentioned one of many victims was taken to the hospital with minor accidents and that the incident was beneath investigation.

Demonstrators on the pro-Trump rally.

(Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Occasions )

One of many demonstrators, who recognized himself as 18-year-old Joseph Edward of Redlands, mentioned he witnessed the assault towards his fellow demonstrators and mentioned it was unprovoked.

“It was meant to be peaceable,” Edward mentioned. “We don’t need this. We don’t need it to occur once more.”

Occasions employees writers Sarah D. Wire and Arit John contributed to this report.