A Los Angeles demonstration criticizing Islam escalated Saturday when counter-protesters entered a Catholic church where activist Eoin Richard had relocated his gathering, pursued him to a nearby Starbucks and poured blue paint over him and another man while repeatedly calling him a “Nazi.”
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom.
A confrontation surrounding a conservative free-speech rally in Los Angeles escalated Saturday when counter-protesters followed organizer Eoin Richard from a Catholic church into a nearby Starbucks, where video showed protesters surrounding him and another man before dumping blue paint over them.
Richard, whose name is also given as Connolly, had organized an Aug. 23 event called “Take Back LA” to criticize Islam and promote what he described as free speech. The demonstration was initially scheduled to take place outside the Islamic Center of Southern California on Vermont Avenue.
Material promoting the planned demonstration circulated before the gathering.
Opponents of the event also organized in advance. A pre-event advisory characterized the planned demonstration as a “far-right” gathering and accused its organizers of targeting Los Angeles’ Muslim community.
As counter-protesters assembled outside the Islamic center, Richard reportedly changed locations and directed his supporters to Precious Blood Catholic Church in Koreatown.
The relocation did not prevent another confrontation.
Journalist Andy Ngo reported that activists he identified as left-wing extremists and Antifa supporters entered Precious Blood Catholic Church, disrupted Richard’s gathering and pursued him as he left the property.
Footage from the incident shows a crowd surrounding Richard while protesters repeatedly call him a “Nazi.”
Richard eventually entered a nearby Starbucks, apparently attempting to get away from the confrontation. Counter-protesters followed him inside.
Video shows Richard seated at a table with another man as protesters crowded around them inside the business.
The confrontation then escalated further when blue paint was poured over Richard and his companion.
Footage circulated on social media showing the two men covered in blue liquid as demonstrators remained gathered closely around them.
An Instagram video also captured scenes connected to the incident.
The sequence began with a planned demonstration outside a Muslim institution, shifted to a Catholic church after counter-protesters appeared at the original location and ultimately moved into a private business after Richard left the church.
Richard describes himself as a right-wing activist and free-speech advocate, while opponents characterized his anti-Islam event as directed against Muslims and labeled the gathering “far-right.”
The confrontation at Precious Blood Catholic Church and Starbucks transformed what Richard had promoted as a free-speech demonstration into a physical and highly charged encounter between his supporters and counter-protesters, culminating in the blue-paint incident captured on video.
Original article
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