Marches in opposition to Islamic law have kicked off across the US. Alt-right rallies have drawn far-left counter-protesters. A number of people have been arrested at several locations as intermittent brawls break out.
The March against Sharia kicked off in dozens locations, including New York city, Chicago, Seattle, Atlanta, Orlando and other cities across the United States on Saturday.
The March was organized by the ACT! for America movement, a political group which claims to be the “nation’s largest nonprofit, non-partisan, grassroots national security organization with 525,000 members and 1,000 volunteer groups.”
The organization said that main aim of the marches “are in support of basic human rights for all – and against the horrific treatment of women, children, and members of the LGBTQ community that is sanctioned by Sharia law,” and do not seek to “attack or intimidate based on race, religion, or sexual orientation.”
Despite the proclaimed goals, some protesters have shown up carrying explicit anti-Muslim slogans.
Heavily armed members of anti-government “patriot movement,” the Three Percenters, have been spotted at the march in Atlanta.
Members of far-right anti-government group, the Oath Keepers, are on “patrol” in the area around city hall in Seattle.
Members of the “Blue lives matter” pro-police movement during the March against Sharia in the New York City.
An Anarchy-Capitalism adept at the anti-Sharia rally in NYC.
The alt-right marches attracted counter protesters with far-left political views.
Counter-protesters in Seattle appear to vastly outnumber the anti-Sharia march.
The counter march is being held under slogan, “We stand with our Muslim neighbors.”
In Seattle, counter-protesters are carrying flags of the so-called Free Syrian Army.
Members of the white nationalist group Identity Evropa spotted during several marches across the US.
While the alt-right marches and counter-protests progressed quite peacefully, a number of people have reportedly been arrested in several locations.
Far-left protesters attacked several anti-Sharia marchers in Seattle. Police pepper sprayed the brawling crowd and at least one person, reportedly carrying a firearm, was arrested.
In St. Paul, Minnesota, authorities arrested seven people outside the State Capitol building as protesters could not stop shouting at each other.
Fights broke out between the opposing camps on a number of occasions but no one was injured.