Protests Turn Violent Outside Los Angeles Spa Featured on Tucker Carlson’s Show
Anger over a transgender person being naked in the spa set the stage for a street brawl on Saturday between dueling factions of protesters.
Twitter/Rick Montanez
Protesters in Los Angeles came to blows on Saturday during a planned protest at an upscale Koreatown spa that has been at the center of controversy ever since a viral Instagram video posted on June 24 showed a woman upset that a transgender woman with a penis was allegedly naked in the female section of the spa and was allowed to be there. The video was picked up by Fox News’ Tucker Carlson and quickly gained the attention of millions.
A protest against Wi Spa was planned for Saturday morning by those who supported the woman who complained, and were against the spa’s policy of protecting trans rights, according to flyers on Instagram. But protesters who supported the spa also turned up, and the dueling factions exchanged punches in the street according to multiple journalists on the ground filming the interaction.
A group of people come with religious and homophobic signs. Activists grab a sign that says “Homo sex is a sin.” One of the protesters pushes an activist, leading to a full brawl. pic.twitter.com/jbslPhXo3b
— Samuel Braslow (@SamBraslow) July 3, 2021
Here’s footage of an independent journalist getting hit in the head with a pipe-like object.
— Samuel Braslow (@SamBraslow) July 3, 2021
Footage courtesy of a witness. pic.twitter.com/nmSkF54Osu
BREAKING: Just had a gun pulled on us by transphobes at Wi Spa. He reached into a backpack and grabbed it. When I asked him what he grabbed, he said “something to shoot you with” to me. pic.twitter.com/hCcTXtPN7V
— Vishal P. Singh (@VPS_Reports) July 3, 2021
By noon, LAPD officers were on scene, and later a cluster of officers in riot gear followed them. An LAPD spokesman told The Daily Beast that they had yet to receive any reports of injuries.
More: Appears this particular group is here in support of Wi Spa, and the rights of trans women. This group appeared angry that LAPD was protecting the other group of demonstrators, who they called transphobic. Police separated both groups as violent clashes broke out | @CBSLA pic.twitter.com/fFxns9Ye0o
— Rick Montanez (@RickCBSLA) July 3, 2021
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