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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.
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. Four people were detained, but only three were arrested as of Saturday afternoon for “failure to disburse,” confirmed Bear. Two were aligned with the initial straight pride rally, and one was a counter-protester, she said. None of the people arrested were local to Stanislaus County.