ARMED ANTI-ABORTION RALLYGOERS IN RIVERSIDE SQUIRTED WITH PENIS-SHAPED WATER BOTTLE

On May 21st, about 50 anti-abortion protesters gathered at Shamel Park in Riverside, California for a “Babies Lives Matter” march to a nearby Planned Parenthood facility—the Riverside Family Planning Center. One hour earlier, a group of about 30 pro-abortion protesters gathered to oppose them. Though there was no physical violence, there were multiple threats of assault from both groups, and one anti-abortion protester threatened to rape someone repeatedly. Though the situation was tense throughout the dueling demonstrations, Planned Parenthood remained open throughout the day.

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While their protest was billed as “Babies Lives Matter,” many right wingers had signs and flags from other right wing causes during the anti-abortion march. Several flags like the “Pine Tree” or ‘An Appeal to Heaven’ Flag and a Gadsden or ‘Don’t Tread on Me’ Flag were flown, while alleged January 6th trespasser Cristian Barajas flew a flag that read “F#ck Gavin Newsom, Latinos don’t trust Democrats anymore.” Jon and Janal Barkley, a husband and wife team from the “Inland Empire Grassroots Advocacy,” Instagram account were slated to speak; the wife flew an American flag upside down at points during the day and told pro-abortion protesters it was upside down because America had “been taken over by commies.” Her husband is listed as currently a school teacher at Frisbie Middle School. Another right-wing protest regular who goes by ‘Tracy Academia’ had a sign reading “COVID is a scam,” and “Recall Gascon” on the reverse side, referring to a far-right campaign to remove the District Attorney of neighboring Los Angeles County.

Men in masks standing around the vehicle entrance to a park looking around. one holds a white flag with a green pine tree on it that says 'an appeal to heaven' on it — Right Wing Protesters Block Access To A Public Park

Dozens of Riverside police officers staged throughout the area. LCRW counted at least three different staging areas for RPD before they mobilized. At least three drones were flying above the Planned Parenthood. At least 6 security guards for the clinic were stationed outside its doors. Despite all of this, there was very little press attention for the event with very few people bringing cameras or video equipment.

As the “Babies Live Matter,” event began in Shamel Park, several men stood near the entrance to the park with gaiters concealing their identities. Various signs, several of which contained graphic pictures of fetal tissue of questionable provenance could be seen displayed near the park’s Arlington Avenue entrance. The group began making speeches, though several listed speakers didn’t attend. One who did show up was 2022 Republican Gubernatorial candidate Anthony Trimino, though he appeared to have left after giving his speech.

A man waves a yellow flag on the sidewalk of a park next to some anti-abortion signs while people gather inside the park — Babies Lives Matter rally-goers preparing to give speeches

Most of the 30 or so pro-abortion protesters were wearing various amounts of black bloc—the anti-surveillance black attire intended to help conceal protesters’ identities from state and far-right surveillance. Several who appeared to be monitoring the “Babies Lives Matter” march stayed near the front entrance to a Planned Parenthood several blocks away. Bagels, Fruit By The Foot and water were stationed near the entrance and representatives of Planned Parenthood encouraged the group to be passionate but dissuaded them from violence.

Around 1PM, a group of five anti-abortion protesters stationed themselves at the back entrance to the clinic. As security for the clinic observed, several of the men began putting on either weighted or padded gloves, telling LCRW they were doing so because “it’s just cold out here,” during the sunny 70 degree day. One anti-abortion protester communicated with the larger group via a walkie-talkie. Multiple times, the group asked an LCRW reporter “where Antifa is at?”

Men walking down a sidewalk towards the camera, some with masks and some with flags — Tony Moon & Co. marching forward to menace an LCRW reporter

30 minutes later, another group of 7 began joining the pro-abortion protesters at the back entrance to the clinic. All but one protester, Capital rioter Tony Moon, were wearing flag gaiters concealing their faces. Moon and one other both carried orange water bottles.

Tony Moon adjusts the body camera on a masked man's chest harness as others stand around outside a building — Tony Moon showing protesters how to operate a bodycam device

START ASIDE

DOES TONY MOON RUN A STREET GANG? DOES TONY MOON RUN A STREET GANG?

Moon and his associates have been known to wear similar attire including orange armbands, matching “Roof Korean Security” shirts and carry blunt weapons or water bottles used as blunt weapons while roaming around right-wing protests, menacing reporters and activists and sometimes assaulting them. Moon isn’t fond of previous LCRW coverage, telling LCRW reporters as much both in person and via DMs, sometimes with added threats of violence and other times encouraging his followers to do the same. Moon brands himself as the “Rooftop Korean,” 4chan meme referencing Korean store owners who shot at people during the 1992 Los Angeles Riots.

Moon himself became a right-wing meme after hitting a counter-protester at an anti-trans demonstration with a water bottle in July 2021. He’s since started framing what he and his cohorts do as security work, though they often just wander around menacing people and looking for fights. Moon and many of his cohorts also wear body-worn camera chest rigs and at the Planned Parenthood event he was photographed showing another anti-abortion demonstrator how to use one.

Moon and people who appear to either be coordinating outfits and fighting together with him were involved in multiple attacks and brawls around Los Angeles since last year. Moon and others attacked and otherwise harassed and intimidated several reporters since he gained right wing micro-celebrity status. His cohorts made sexually harassing comments towards photojournalist Calvin Stewart, who was a minor at the time. Moon attacked and ripped the mask off of Status Coup correspondent Tina Desiree-Berg. Moon and others showed up outside of journalist Emily Molli’s residence—and former Vice editor in Chief Rocco Castoro’s residence.Moon taunted LCRW contributor Vishal P Singh by asking about their face after Mike Ancheta, who was photographed wearing Moon’s “security” uniform in October at a September, 2021 right wing rally, broke several bones in their face outside of a West Hollywood bar.In August of 2021 at the same rally where Desiree-Berg was attacked, associates of Moon including Tracey Saysay (carrying a water bottle), Mike Ancheta and an unknown person carrying an orange water bottle were nearby during an attack on NPR correspondent Frank Stoltze. Moon reportedly got in the face of former Buzzfeed head of video Andrew Kimmel while calling him “antifa press” at an August anti-vaccine rally. During the same rally, Kimmel later reported being followed by men wearing orange armbands.

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Since hitting a Wi Spa counter-protester in the head with an orange water bottle, Moon’s been utilizing right wing extremists’ memeification of his violence as a way to increase his own brand. At an August 2021 anti-vaccine rally and counter-protest, Tony Moon pointed toward a crowd of counter-protesters and began yelling “unmask them all!” as fights broke out for a second time; the fight ended with two people, one from either side of the conflict, stabbed or shanked, a counter-protester bleeding profusely from her head, an independent journalist maced, and several people visibly injured—many of the injuries were sustained by either water bottles or perpetrated by people wearing the orange arm bands that people associated with Moon sometimes wear. Moon has been promoting a stylized version of an August 2021 photo of his attack on Tina Desiree-Berg into stickers with Desiree-Berg bizarrely changed into a male antifascist demonstrator. Nearly all of his personal attacks have targeted either women activists or working press members. He is currently selling a self-defense class which costs $120 including a t-shirt. The flier, posted on his Telegram channel, states the classes are “by invitation only.”

END ASIDE

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Joining five others at the back of the Planned Parenthood, Moon and his group confronted this LCRW reporter, calling them a “liar.” Unclipping his orange water bottle, Moon yelled at this reporter “you know what this is, don’t you?” Saying that they “were not a gang,” and accusing this LCRW reporter of talking shit on “right wing watch.” Asking “where your buddies at,” Moon began coordinating with the other anti-abortion demonstrators on where to find counter-protesters.

A police officer soon appeared; one member of the group complained that this reporter was “agitating them.” Another member of the anti-abortion demonstration asked if they received the same speech on the other side; a police officer confirmed that they’d given that speech twice to the pro-abortion demonstrators.

a man, cropped from his upper torso to his knees, walks along a sidewalk next to a building. He's wearing jeans and a black shirt with long sleeves and his fist is clenched around brass knuckles — A right wing protester walking towards the Planned Parenthood while wearing brass knuckles

Moon then spoke into his radio that “they are going around to the backside.” Walking with about 4 others, he then spoke into the radio that “we’ll see you guys over there.” As the group began walking towards the front entrance to the Planned Parenthood the group of about 30 pro-abortion demonstrators began chanting “my body, my choice,” as several drummed a beat. One anti-abortion demonstrator had put on brass knuckles.

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The two groups traded insults and on occasion threats; when a second wave of anti-abortion protesters arrived the pro-abortion group began to move back closer to the Planned Parenthood. Riverside Police moved in between the two sides and blocked street access. One pro-abortion demonstrator squirted anti-abortion demonstrators with a penis-shaped water bottle after the latter began calling the former an anti-woman slur. After police arrived, patients occasionally were led by police into the clinic.

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One pro-abortion demonstrator told this LCRW reporter to “fuck off,” after noticing his press badge. He then offered a bagel to LCRW while clarifying “still, fuck off.”

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At 3PM, another group of anti-abortion protesters arrived. Chanting “babies lives matter,” and calling the pro-abortion demonstrators “baby killers,” this group brought with them both sheathed knives and children. Self-identified Three Percenter Elsa Aldeguer, who has been seen alongside right wing luminaries ranging from violent pepper spray attacker David Dempsey and U.S. Representative and Anti-Semitic Conspiracy Theorist Marjorie Taylor Green, filmed the crowd. LCRW approached fringe 2021 Gubernatorial Recall candidate Sara Stephens for comment, but she did not respond. Stephens was the getaway driver for right wing brawler Aaron Simmons at an August, 2021 Wispa protest after Simmons hit filmmaker Rocky Romano over the head with a metal pipe. Simmons also hit Newsmax reporter James Klug.

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As the anti-abortion protesters began praying, Stephens began holding her baby in the air. As it was a sunny day, pro-abortion protesters began chanting “put the baby in the shade.” Drums, covers of “God Bless America,” chanting from both sides and loud megaphones made it difficult to hear everything either side had to say. One anti-abortion protester yelled towards either the police or the pro-abortion protesters that they “aren’t going anywhere.” The anti-abortion protesters left about 30 minutes later.

As anti-abortion protesters left, several flashed the “OK symbol” at the pro-abortion group. Pro-abortion protesters began chanting and saying goodbye, as police told pro-abortion protesters they couldn’t leave until the anti-abortion protest group had left the area. The pro-abortion crowd chanted “Riverside is anti-fascist” alongside drums. The event eventually ended as both sides left.

A spokesperson for Planned Parenthood told LCRW that this was the first large group of protesters and counter-protesters at their Riverside location. They told LCRW that “while we sometimes do have protestors at some of our sites, we have not had any other large groups of protestors or counter-protestors at any of our health centers in Riverside County recently. No matter what, we will continue to provide compassionate, and quality health care to all who come to us. Planned Parenthood has been around for over 100 years and we’re not going anywhere. We’re here for good.” They also informed LCRW that they remained open the entire day for patients.

“We’ll always be here to meet their reproductive health needs,” they said.

ARMED ANTI-ABORTION RALLYGOERS in RIVERSIDE SQUIRTED WITH PENIS-SHAPED WATER BOTTLE

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