Antifa protesters knock pro-Trump man's teeth out, pelt rocks at San Francisco MAGA rally: 'Biden, just an idea?'
Antifa demonstrators reportedly pelted a pro-Trump supporter with stones and even punched Philip Anderson and knocked his teeth out. Anderson was one of the organizers of the 'Free Speech Rally' that was held in San Francisco, California on October 17. The counter-protesters were reportedly filmed hurling rocks at the 'Team Save America' organizer, who had to be hospitalized. While the event received a city permit to be held, it had to be called off minutes after it began because of the violent turn the rally took.
The attendees of the MAGA rally wore red 'Make America Great Again' Trump campaign hats and carried pro-police 'Thin Blue Line' flags and US flags as Lee Greenwood's song 'Proud To Be An American' blared. It was also reported that a police officer and Anderson were attacked near United Nations Plaza. A female counter-protester was heard yelling at Anderson, "Oh, cry about it, cry about it," as he was punched while the crowd chanted "get the f**k out".
Another video was also released by Richmond Pulse reporter, according to The Sun, which showed the same masked man violently striking Anderson as he continued to yell in pain. He is then seen crossing a barricade when the crowd starts pelting stones at him. Anderson, a vocal Trump supporter, had flown to California to take part in the rally and oppose Twitter's supposed censorship of conservatives. He had also planned to take the rally to the Twitter headquarters at 1 pm. However, the rally had to be called off because of the violence that erupted between pro-Trump supporters and counter-protesters.
Philip Anderson, a free speech rally leader, punched by counter protester and pushed back into barricaded area at UN Plaza in SF. Rally has not started yet. #ProudBoys #SanFrancisco pic.twitter.com/NcNopIyDAX
— Denis Ivan Perez (@dpi_19) October 17, 2020
It was also reported that Anderson was spotted being loaded into an ambulance by a press photographer and many members who were ready to take part in the rally had to be escorted by the law enforcement out of the city as the tension between the two groups reportedly gained momentum. He later told a reporter that the attack by Antifa — an umbrella term for far-left militant groups that resist neo-Nazis and white supremacists — was the reason why he chooses to support Trump and said, "I love America, I love this country and I love free speech.”
Joe Biden, do you still think that Antifa is “just an idea” ? pic.twitter.com/UECmU39Tx6
— Philip Anderson (@TeamSaveAmerica) October 17, 2020
Since being admitted to the hospital, Anderson shared a video captioned, "Joe Biden, do you still think that Antifa is 'just an idea?'" In the video showing his bloodied mouth and missing tooth, he said, "This is what the 'idea' you're talking about, Antifa, did to me. I'm at the hospital right now, Joe Biden, because of Antifa. So I just wanted to ask you: do you still think after seeing this, that they're just an idea? I want you to answer that question."
Another protester was spotted being transporter to a hospital with a leg splint. Following the violence, police tried to control the crowd by using pepper spray. As of now, there have been no arrests in this case.