2016 Sacramento riot

2016 civil disorder in Sacramento, California, U.S. December 2025 December 2025 2016 Sacramento riot Crowd outside California State Capitol after riot anarchist flag debris.jpg A crowd outside the California State Capitol after the riot. An anarchist flag is carried in the foreground. Debris lies on the plaza. 2016 06 26 California State Capitol, Sacramento, California, US Riot, rally Rally permit revokednb "After the first violent event, we revoked the permit for the event." — CHP Capitol spokesman Neo-NazisTraditionalist Worker PartyGolden State SkinheadsNational Socialist MovementStabbings amid chaos at Calif. "Nazi mega-rally" https://www.cbsnews.com/news/mass-casualty-stabbings-nazi-rally-sacramento-california/ 17 October 2017 CBS News Associated Press 26 June 2016 en By Any Means Necessary (BAMN)Antifa Sacramento and other organizations and supporters,Evans Greg CNN Re-Airs Three-Year-Old Interview With Hate Group Leader Following Sacramento's Bloody Brawl https://deadline.com/2016/06/cnn-hate-group-sacramento-riot-matthew-heimbach-1201779731/ 27 June 2016 Deadline Hollywood Penske Business Media, LLC Jun 26, 2016 Matthew Heimbach Yvette Felarca 30 300 10 0 4 The 2016 Sacramento riot was a civil disorder at a neo-Nazi and alt-right rally outside the California State Capitol in Sacramento, California on June 26, 2016. Alt-right and neo-Nazi groups including the Traditionalist Workers Party and other white supremacist groups were involved. Counter-protestors arrived at the rally to oppose the neo-Nazis and white supremacy. This included Antifa and their allies. Ten people were hospitalized for stabbing and laceration wounds with the majority of those hospitalized being counter-protesters. Riot A neo-Nazi group called the Traditionalist Workers Party (TWP) had a permitnb Photo caption: "Anti-fascist counter-protesters parade through Sacramento after multiple people were stabbed during a clash between neo-Nazis holding a permitted rally and counter-protesters on Sunday at the state capitol in Sacramento, California, United States, June 26, 2016." — Reuters/Max Whittaker for a rally on the west steps of the capitol building.Johnson Eric M. Madden Justin Ortiz Fiona McGurty Frank Reese Chris Clash at California capitol leaves at least 10 injured https://www.reuters.com/article/us-california-stabbing-idUSKCN0ZC114 June 27, 2016 Reuters Reuters News Agency, Thomson Reuters June 26, 2016Seven hospitalized in California stabbing at neo-Nazi rally http://www.thestar.com.my/news/world/2016/06/27/seven-hospitalized-in-california-stabbing-at-neo-nazi-rally/ June 27, 2016 The Star Online AFP Star Media Group June 27, 2016 They were joined by their affiliate, Golden State Skinheads (GSS). Several groups led by Antifa (Anti-Fascist Action) Sacramento and BAMN (By Any Means Necessary) organized a counter protest. BAMN issued a statement saying that "collective power through mass militant direct action can shut these Nazis down and deal the fascists and white-supremacists a decisive tactical defeat".BAMN NO "FREE SPEECH" FOR FASCISTS! Mass, militant demonstration shuts down Sacramento Neo-Nazi rally! http://www.bamn.com/social-justice/no-free-speech-for-fascists June 26, 2016 June 27, 2016 A determined opposition prepared to assert our collective power through mass militant direct action can shut these Nazis down and deal the fascists and white-supremacists a decisive tactical defeat. Antifa Sacramento stated that "fighting fascism was not a political duty, but a moral one", and called for direct action against them.Antifa Sacramento CALL TO ACTION!!! STOP TRADITIONALIST WORKERS PARTY!!! http://antifasac.weebly.com/events.html June 27, 2016 https://archive.today/20160626225913/http://antifasac.weebly.com/events.html June 26, 2016 dead mdy-all Capitol chaos: Who is behind these groups? http://www.abc10.com/news/local/sacramento/capitol-chaos-who-is-behind-these-groups/257564701 July 26, 2017 KXTV ABC News June 27, 2016 August 15, 2017 https://web.archive.org/web/20170815220659/http://www.abc10.com/news/local/sacramento/capitol-chaos-who-is-behind-these-groups/257564701 dead Anti-fascist protesters started arriving around 9:00 a.m. and just before 11:00 a.m. they confronted a TV crew, shouting "no cameras" at reporter Mike Luery of KCRA and the cameraman. The protesters grabbed Luery's mic and attempted to grab the camera.KCRA KCRA reporter caught in protest violence Mike Luery http://www.kcra.com/news/kcra-reporter-caught-in-protest-violence/40235710 July 26, 2016 July 27, 2015 Just before the TWP rally was scheduled to begin around noon, about 300 or moreEllis Ralph At least 10 injured -- some stabbed -- at California rally, authorities say http://www.cnn.com/2016/06/26/us/brawl-at-california-rally/ June 27, 2016 CNN Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. Jun 26, 2016 anarchists and other counter-protesters confronted the group.Magagnini Stephen Garrison Ellen Stanton Sam At least 10 hurt at chaotic, bloody neo-Nazi rally at Capitol https://www.sacbee.com/news/local/crime/article86099332.html 27 June 2016 The Sacramento Bee The McClatchy Company June 26, 2016Serna Joseph Neo-Nazis didn't start the violence at state Capitol, police say https://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-neo-nazi-event-stabbings-capitol-20160627-snap-story.html 28 June 2016 Los Angeles Times June 27, 2016 Members of the counter-protesters wore masks and used wooden bats, sticks, fireworks, and other weapons. A few people carried knives, though which side brought the knives used in the subsequent stabbings is unknown. About 400 people were involved in the violence. Ten people were hospitalized, all for multiple stabbing and laceration wounds, including two in critical life-threatening condition.Moffatt Bob 10 Injured After Clash Of Right-Wing And Left-Wing Groups At State Capitol http://www.capradio.org/articles/2016/06/26/state-capitol-stabbings June 27, 2016 Capital Public Radio June 26, 2016 Only one of the TWP and GSS members was stabbed.Queally James Violence in Sacramento shows old and new faces of white extremism https://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-california-white-nationalists-sacramento-20160627-snap-story.html June 29, 2016 Los Angeles Times June 27, 2016 The capitol was locked down. Streets were closed. Over 100 police officers responded in riot gear and on horseback. They used rubber pellets and pepper-spray balls. Matthew Heimbach, the chairman of the TWP, said they expected violence, although they planned the rally to be peaceful. TWP sent about 30 people together with Golden State Skinheads.July 2016 Yvette Felarca, an organiser for BAMN, stated that "mass militant action, with an integrated group of people" was used to shut down white nationalists.Garrison Ellen June 26, 2016 Activist Yvette Felarca says anti-fascist rally at the Capitol will prevent more violence https://www.sacbee.com/news/local/crime/article86132312.html The Sacramento Bee June 27, 2016 Felarca was filmed punching a man at the protests.Robert Mackey White Supremacists Are Met With Rocks in Sacramento and Scorn in Newcastle https://theintercept.com/2016/06/28/white-supremacist-rallies-met-rocks-sacramento-scorn-newcastle/ theintercept.com The Intercept June 28, 2016 en June 28, 2016 After the melee, Yvette Felarca, a national organizer with BAMN — who was seen on video cursing at and punching one of the white nationalists...Ioffee Karina FBI investigates threat against Berkeley school after teacher's counterprotest at rally http://www.eastbaytimes.com/breaking-news/ci_30067746/fbi-investigates-threat-against-berkeley-school-after-teachers eastbaytimes.com East Bay Times June 28, 2016 en June 28, 2016 California Assemblyman Jim Cooper was at the Capitol during the riot. He said violence was unnecessary, and the counter-protesters could have shut down the rally with yelling.The Jackson Sun Fascists against freedom, unite June 30, 2016 Debra Saunders July 1, 2016 http://www.jacksonsun.com/story/opinion/columnists/2016/06/30/fascists-freedom-unite/86577700/ Assemblyman Jim Cooper, D-California, was downtown when he heard about the violence and went to the Capitol to see for himself. He saw counter-protesters ready for a fight. And for no reason. The neo-Nazis, he told me, 'were way outnumbered.' The counter-protesters could have yelled and drowned out the neo-Nazis, who then would have 'gone home.' But the counter-protesters had shown up 'ready for action.' Cres Vellucci, a police observer and representative for the National Lawyers Guild, described the violence as a "free-for-all". Vellucci said the police basically let people do what they wanted and fight it out.The Sacramento Bee Police defend response to violent rally at California Capitol Sam Stanton and Anita Chabria June 27, 2016 July 6, 2016 https://www.sacbee.com/news/local/crime/article86248757.html He described it as a 'free-for-all.' 'The police didn’t step in really at all,' Vellucci said. 'They basically just let people do what they wanted to do.' [...] 'It was like someone made a decision,' Vellucci said. 'In this case, someone made a decision just to let them fight it out, that’s what it appeared.' Participants The Traditionalist Workers Party is listed as a white nationalist extremist group by the Southern Poverty Law Center, which describes TWP as the political wing of the Traditionalist Youth Network.Dwyer Colin Amid Violence At White Nationalist Rally In Sacramento, At Least 10 Hospitalized https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2016/06/26/483619054/amid-violence-at-white-nationalist-rally-in-sacramento-at-least-7-hospitalized June 27, 2016 NPR June 26, 2016 The rally was also organized by the National Socialist Movement, a neo-Nazi organization.Several people stabbed during Neo-Nazi event in Sacramento https://www.foxnews.com/us/several-people-stabbed-during-neo-nazi-event-in-sacramento/ 17 October 2017 Fox News 26 June 2016 Counter-protests were organized by BAMN, a militant left-wing groupBAMN leader talks about militancy in media interview Aftermath A middle school in Berkeley, California received an email threatening harm against its students if it did not fire Yvette Felarca, a teacher at the school who was caught on video violently attacking a protester and is an organizer with BAMN. In response, police increased security at the school and summer programs were moved to other locations.Raguso Emilie Anonymous email threatens students at Berkeley school after Sacramento rally tied to local teacher http://www.berkeleyside.com/2016/06/27/anonymous-email-threatens-students-at-berkeley-school-after-sacramento-rally-tied-to-local-teacher/ June 27, 2016 Berkeleyside June 27, 2016 Because Felarca's actions were committed off-hours, no action can be taken against her unless the police file charges against her, which they did. Cate Cauguiran reported that the police and the California Highway Patrol were investigating a video of Felarca punching a protester.CBS SF Bay Area Berkeley Teacher On Video Punching Neo-Nazi Supporter At State Capitol Rally Cate Cauguiran http://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/2016/06/29/berkeley-teacher-on-video-punching-neo-nazi-supporter-at-state-capitol-rally/ June 29, 2016 June 30, 2016 Police and the California Highway Patrol are still investigating the incident. Both sides of the protest have claimed victory. The TWP considered the action a success because "six Antifas have been hospitalized in critical condition, with many more being treated for lesser injuries" while they "only suffered one significant casualty."http://www.tradyouth.org/2016/06/outnumbered-sacramento-spartans-rout-leftist-scum/ Outnumbered Sacramento Spartans Rout Leftist Scum; A Call For Nationalist Solidarity – Traditionalist Youth Network Tradyouth.org 2016-06-27 2016-07-07 https://web.archive.org/web/20160702072724/http://www.tradyouth.org/2016/06/outnumbered-sacramento-spartans-rout-leftist-scum/ 2016-07-02 dead The counter-protesters considered it a success because they prevented the TWP from achieving their objective of holding a rally in Sacramento.July 2016 The TWP planned to be in Cleveland, Ohio for the Republican National Convention there in July.Seattle Times staff White nationalist group says it will be at Republican convention http://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/white-nationalist-group-says-it-will-be-at-republican-convention/ June 28, 2016 The Seattle Times McClatchy Washington Bureau (TNS) and Los Angeles Times The Seattle Times Company June 27, 2016 The Anti-Defamation League wrote that despite both sides claiming success, it is "the white supremacists who most benefit from the free publicity" generated by the violence.ADL The Hate Group Behind the Sacramento White Supremacist Rally June 28, 2016 http://blog.adl.org/extremism/the-hate-group-behind-the-sacramento-white-supremacist-rally?_ga=1.40717287.492441923.1467324364 June 30, 2016 Both sides declared "success" after the fracas, but it is the white supremacist who most benefit from the free publicity that such violent generates. https://web.archive.org/web/20160817211615/http://blog.adl.org/extremism/the-hate-group-behind-the-sacramento-white-supremacist-rally?_ga=1.40717287.492441923.1467324364 August 17, 2016 dead Genevieve Leigh, writing for the Trotskyists World Socialist Web Site, denounced the violence by counter-protesters. Leigh wrote that violence by small groups does not address the fundamental structural problems of a capitalist society and "ultimately play in the hands of the state."World Socialist Web Site Violent confrontation at Sacramento racist demonstration leaves 10 injured Genevieve Leigh June 28, 2016 July 6, 2016 https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2016/06/28/sacr-j28.html A fight against openly fascistic groups like these, as well as radical right-wing tendencies seen in the 2016 US presidential campaign, cannot be achieved through the anarchistic groups that were apparently on scene in Sunday’s conflict. Violent confrontations between small groups cannot address the fundamental social antagonisms in capitalist society and ultimately play into the hands of the state. The actions of isolated groups, devoid of a socialist political program or a concept of the class struggle, can never serve as a substitute for the collective struggle of the working class. On June 30, representatives and community leaders across Sacramento held a unity conference at the Capitol to denounce the violence on Sunday. Darrell Steinberg, the mayor of Sacramento, said “what happened here on Sunday is the opposite of what Sacramento is about.” Richard Pan, a Senator for Sacramento's 6th District, said ”Many people come here to articulate different views and it's important people have the ability to do so but violence is not the answer to addressing those issues."CBS Sacramento After Capitol Violence, Calls Begin For Peace In Sacramento Angela Musallam June 30, 2016 July 6, 2016 http://sacramento.cbslocal.com/2016/06/30/after-capitol-violence-calls-begin-for-peace-in-sacramento/ 2017 7 19 us, one suspected neo-Nazi protester, William Scott Planer, and three counter-protesters were charged with crimes connected to the riot.https://www.sacbee.com/news/local/crime/article162479738.html One suspected neo-Nazi and three counter-demonstrators charged in Capitol riot Stanton Sam July 19, 2017 The Sacramento Bee Prosecutors have arrested a total of four suspects in last year's riot at the state Capitol, one a suspected neo-Nazi who is also accused of defacing a Colorado synagogue and three anti-fascist counter-demonstrators, including a Berkeley middle school teacher. Felarca was one of those arrested, being charged with felony assault and misdemeanor rioting.http://www.dailycal.org/2017/07/19/busd-teacher-activist-yvette-felarca-arrested-tuesday/ BUSD teacher, activist Yvette Felarca arrested Tuesday Lee Christine The Daily Californian July 19, 2017 In 2019, the charges were dropped after she agreed to perform 90 hours of community service.Orenstein Natalie 2019-11-15 Berkeley teacher Felarca gets community service in Sacramento assault case http://www.berkeleyside.org/2019/11/14/berkeley-teacher-felarca-gets-community-service-in-sacramento-assault-case 2024-02-22 Berkeleyside en-US The same year, the jury deadlocked at Planer's trial on assault charges. In April 2019, he pleaded no contest to assault likely to produce great bodily harm and was sentenced to four years in prison. Planer was released immediately since he'd already served two years in the county jail.independent Associated Press The Associated Press is an City not-for-profit news cooperative headquartered in New York 2019-07-03 White nationalist sentenced to 4 years in prison for California Capitol melee https://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-capitol-brawl-white-nationalist-sentenced-20190703-story.html 2024-02-22 Los Angeles Times en-US See also 2017 Berkeley protests Unite the Right rally, another alt-right demonstration that turned violent with the NSM and TWP as one of the participants Notes nb References 30em Category:2016 crimes in California Category:2010s in Sacramento, California Category:Organized events in Sacramento, California Category:June 2016 crimes in the United States Category:Knife attacks in the United States Category:Mass stabbings in the United States Category:Far-left politics in the United States Category:Neo-Nazism in the United States Category:Political riots in the United States Category:White American riots in the United States Category:Riots and civil disorder in California Category:2010s political riots