Dozens arrested in Los Angeles as anti-trans protest outside spa turns violent - The Guardian

Dozens of people have been arrested in Los Angeles following a chaotic and at times violent demonstration by anti-transgender protesters who targeted a Koreatown spa that has a trans-inclusive policy allowing trans women to use women’s facilities.

According to multiple protesters, Arthur Schaper, the leader of the California chapter of an anti-LGBT hate group, arrived early to the protest outside Wi Spa and took refuge behind a line of police officers as trans rights protesters heckled him.

Arthur Schaper of anti-LBGT group Mass Resistance showed up at the Wi Spa earlier and quickly took refuge behind a line of police on the corner demonstrators had been cleared from.

For hours on Saturday, the neighborhood around Wi Spa was filled with lines of police in riot helmets and clashes between police and protesters, with reports of less-lethal weapons being used against the trans rights and anti-fascist activists who showed up as part of a counter-protest against the far-right demonstrators.

LAPD also appeared to fire rubber bullets at trans rights demonstrators from a close distance, despite a recent judge’s ruling restricting the department’s use of certain “less lethal” projectile launchers against protesters.

Footage also showed LAPD officers taking a trans flag from demonstrators, and the police department later posted a photo of a rainbow-painted piece of wood left behind, claiming it was some kind of violation.

The following Saturday, 3 July, saw violent clashes around the spa as anti-trans demonstrators showed up to protest Wi Spa, and local trans rights and anti-fascist activists showed up to defend it.

Amber Hooper, from Orange County, had watched the violence in early July in shock, and had decided to come to Wi Spa with a friend for the second counter-protest on Saturday 17 July, after local activists said far-right demonstrators were planning to return.

It was frustrating to see that “the people who talk about law and order are against the laws that protect trans people,” Hooper said.

Jamie Penn, a neighborhood activist and medic, said that the trans rights demonstrators wanted to protect the spa and its business, but that the spa itself was trying to remain neutral, and that it seemed to want the whole situation to go away