Two neo-Nazis were beaten and others pelted with eggs, rocks and bottles, as African-American, Latino, Jewish and immigrant-right groups joined in countering a rally by some 40 members of the National Socialist Movement in front of Los Angles City Hall.
The Detroit-based Nazi group had received a permit for the Saturday demonstration and was protected by police, which called a tactical alert as the confrontation heated up.
Wearing swastikas and shouting “Sieg Heil,” the demonstrators aimed their slogans and placards mainly against illegal immigrants, though interspersed with racist and anti-Semitic outbursts.
Even so, their aims weren’t always clear. One of the beaten demonstrators carried a sign reading “Christianity=Paganism=Heathen$” with an arrow pointing to a swastika. He and the other beaten man were treated and released.
An estimated 500 counter-demonstrators arrived from all over the region and pursued the neo-Nazis as they retreated toward the parking lot where they had parked their cars.
One was unable to start his car and to fend off flying bottles and rocks, he and his fellows held swastika-emblazoned placards over their heads, the Los Angeles Times reported.
Police arrested, and later released, five of the counter-demonstrators.
