It’s the fourth year in a row that protesters have gathered in front of the Planned Parenthood building on McHenry Avenue, and like last year, violence quickly ensued.
At 10:30 a.m., a single man visiting from San Jose, with a sign that read “Jesus Saves from Hell,” preached while a crowd of people across the street with rainbow signs and banners for women’s rights were chanted and jeered. Modesto police officers gathered quietly on bicycles as patrol cars crossed McHenry Avenue. Loudest of all was the Modesto Window Tint, which blasted band music from its exterior speakers. “We are neutral. We’re just window paint, man,” said Tony Manriquez, one of the owners, after counter-protesters asked him to turn up the music and drown out the preacher. As the chants grew louder, he changed the song to “We Are The World”, 1985’s Peace Strike.
The happy music didn’t last. A scuffle ensued as a pride boy tried to push past police, said Richard, who watched the violence as a “rights pride” supporter but did not identify himself as a pride boy. Counter-protesters began throwing water bottles in retaliation. An explosion went off and a red-streaked firework flew down the street. Modesto Police Department spokeswoman Sharon Burr could not confirm the sequence of events Saturday afternoon, but noted that the protesters were not participating in the official pride rally, which was scheduled for noon. Bear confirmed that a bush caught fire, prompting the police to call the event an “illegal assembly” and crack down.
More than 25 police officers armed with tactical gear descended on the scene. Police fired pepper spray into the rainbow-clad crowd of counter-protesters, injuring at least two people who were moved away by volunteers. Police also used bean bag guns, which looked like orange shotguns. Four people were arrested, but only three were arrested Saturday afternoon for “failure to disburse,” Bear confirmed. Two were aligned with the original pride rally and one was a counter-protester, he said. None of those arrested were Stanislaus County natives.
Modesto police try to clear the area around the Planned Parenthood office on McHenry Avenue during an opposition rally that began as a protest of the Straight Pride event in Modesto, Calif., Saturday, Aug. 27, 2022. Andy Alfaro [email protected] .com
“They came at us with bats, beat us, beat the crap out of us,” said one counter-protester who was hit with a pepper spray bullet. He declined to give his name. Volunteers had poured water into his eyes, but he was still wheezing.
The presence of the Modesto Police Department and the Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Office increased as officers formed a line, pushing back counter-protesters. Behind them, a police armadillo, a large black SWAT-style truck, pulled up as officers closed McHenry Avenue from Coolidge Avenue to East Orangeburg Avenue.
A medic volunteer washes the eyes of a young man after police fired pepper spray at counter-demonstrators gathered against the ‘straight pride’ event Adam Echelman [email protected]
The straight pride supporters had moved behind the police line and were standing in the Wendy’s parking lot. Nearby, firefighters loaded a person into an ambulance. It was unclear if the person was injured or sick.
As police pushed counter-protesters toward Orangeburg, crowds began walking toward Five Star Inc., a used car dealer with polished trucks surrounding the building. “I feel like I’m not making any money because we’ve been screwed,” said one employee, who declined to be named.
Naomi Bingham Walker and Odette Zapata drove down from Sacramento Saturday morning in a caravan with other friends who support LGBTQ and women’s issues. For Bingham Walker, a queer black woman, the show was about combating what she says is “the rise of white supremacy and hatred in our country.”
Zapata shouted as nearby police continued to push back the counter-demonstrators: “We have two armies to face when we defend our rights: we have to deal with the cops who are attacking us, and we are going to get a second wave of right-wing extremists. We are afraid that they will attack us too.” Despite the 90-degree heat, Zapata wore a sweater to hide the bulletproof vest she was wearing. “If they see you wearing it, they’ll automatically detain you,” Zapata said.
Nancy R. of the Answer Coalition shouts during an impromptu march through the streets of Modesto after police dispersed protesters gathered at the Planned Parenthood office on McHenry Avenue in Modesto, Calif., Saturday, Aug. 27, 2022. The protest began as gathering to oppose the planned Straight Pride event. Andy Alfaro [email protected]
By 12:15 p.m., the police had withdrawn and the counter-protesters were moved to the Roosevelt neighborhood park.
A few streets away, Richard was confronted by the police. “Remember me,” he cried. “Look at the repercussions when they protected antifa,” he told a few stubborn officers. He had driven from Solano County after seeing the ad for a “Straight Pride Event” featuring the Rev. Jesse Lee Peterson as the “Grand Marshall.” Peterson, a radio host known for his homophobic stance, did not attend and instead participated via Zoom, Richard said.
McHenry Ave was quiet until 1 a.m. At Modesto Window Tint, Manriquez had closed the front entrance of the store, but the business was still open. The music was off, Manriquez explained: “Only because the cops were right there.”
Sheriff’s deputies and Modesto police try to clear the area around the Planned Parenthood office on McHenry Avenue during a counter rally that began as a protest of the Straight Pride event in Modesto, Calif., Saturday, Aug. 27, 2022. Andy Alfaro [email protected] modbee.com Protesters gather at the Planned Parenthood office on McHenry Avenue to oppose the planned Straight Pride event in Modesto, Calif., Saturday, Aug. 27, 2022. Andy Alfaro [email protected] A video capture shows police to mobilize to disperse protesters after Modesto police declared the rally an “unlawful assembly” after a minor scuffle at the Planned Parenthood office in Modesto, Calif., Saturday, Aug. 27, 2022. People gathered to protest the planned event Straight Pride. Andy Alfaro [email protected] A video capture shows Sheriff’s deputies and Modesto police engage protesters trying to clear the area around the Planned Parenthood office on McHenry Avenue during an opposition rally that started as a protest against the Straight Pride event in Modesto, California. , on Saturday, August 27, 2022. Andy Alfaro [email protected] Sheriff’s deputies try to clear the area around the Planned Parenthood office on McHenry Avenue during an opposition rally that started as a protest of the Straight Pride event in Modesto, California. , on Saturday, August 27, 2022. Andy Alfaro [email protected] Modesto Police and Sheriff’s deputies descend on the Planned Parenthood office after an altercation between individuals during a protest on McHenry Ave to oppose Modesto’s Straight Pride event California, on Saturday, August 27, 2022. Andy Alfaro …
