The Modesto Bee reports:
Insults turned to violence on Saturday as the National Straight Pride Coalition clashed with over 200 LGBTQ and pro-choice counter-protesters. It’s the fourth consecutive year that demonstrators have assembled in front of the Planned Parenthood building on McHenry Avenue, and like last year, violence quickly ensued.
A scuffle ensued as a Proud Boy attempted to push past the police, said Richard, who watched the violence as a “straight pride” supporter but did not identify as a Proud Boy himself. Counter-protesters started throwing water bottles in retaliation.
More than 25 police officers armed in tactical gear descended on the scene. Police fired pepper spray bullets into the rainbow-clad crowd of counter-protesters, injuring at least two people who were whisked away by volunteers. Police also used bean bag guns, which looked like orange shotguns.
Read the full article. The piece includes many photos.
The “grand marshal” of last year’s rally, which also resulted in violence, was far-right preacher and radio host Jesse Lee Peterson, who was recently accused by several of his friends of having sexual relationships with multiple men. At least two of those men have confirmed the claims.
I’m on the ground in Modesto where counter protestors are already holding the Straight Pride rally space. “Piss Boys go Home!” pic.twitter.com/Vqlzc2wjBH
— Notorious TDB (@TinaDesireeBerg) August 27, 2022
A single guy is standing here preaching pic.twitter.com/BttNSb5p6h
— Notorious TDB (@TinaDesireeBerg) August 27, 2022
I caught up with the Straight Pride folks in another area of Modesto pic.twitter.com/NgUUdkhkvd
— Notorious TDB (@TinaDesireeBerg) August 27, 2022
Organizers of a proposed “straight pride” event in #Modesto let it be known who they really are:
“We’re a totally peaceful, racist group.”
— Equality California (@eqca) August 8, 2019
Over 250 people shut down the white nationalist “Straight Pride” rally today in #Modesto in front of Planned Parenthood. Police attacked the crowd with projectile weapons, injuring several, after it successfully repelled an attack by a small group of Proud Boys. pic.twitter.com/1snmjIcq5i
— OFF THE 99 (@Off_The_99) August 28, 2022
“Police fired pepper spray bullets into the rainbow-clad crowd of counter-protesters, injuring at least two people who were whisked away by volunteers. Police also used bean bag guns, which looked like orange shotguns.” https://t.co/2LY47opnOU pic.twitter.com/zEq578yS3y
— OFF THE 99 (@Off_The_99) August 28, 2022
Jesse Lee Peterson, MC of the “Straight Pride” rally in #Modesto tomorrow, whose organizers call LGBTQ people “Satanic,” is also currently in the middle of sex scandal, after several of his male followers have come forward. Report on #ThisWeekInFascism: https://t.co/fTkDGIhZUD pic.twitter.com/2OyhIAPnEf
— It’s Going Down (@IGD_News) August 26, 2022
Peterson also has a long history of aligning himself with neo-Nazis and white supremacists. Most recently he appeared as a featured speaker at a conference organized by Unite the Right marcher and Holocaust denier, Nick Fuentes, leader of the Alt-Right “Groypers.” pic.twitter.com/cXgS86x6sY
— It’s Going Down (@IGD_News) August 26, 2022
Counter-protesters clash with local police after a confrontation with Straight Pride Parade attendees at a rally outside a Planned Parenthood office in Modesto, California. Photo by @ReutersBarria pic.twitter.com/iE2aKOBizy
— corinne_perkins (@corinne_perkins) August 27, 2022
#NEWS: 3 arrested after ‘Straight Pride’ parade in Modesto, CA — LGBT community showed up to protest pic.twitter.com/iywYQOGnys
— 44vibe News (@44vibeTV) August 28, 2022