On Friday, New York police officers made four arrests after supporters of former President Donald Trump clashed with counter-protesters in the Manhattan borough.
Trump supporters marched on Fifth Avenue near Trump Tower carrying “Trump 2024” banners at an event billed as the “Trump Save America Flag Unfolding.”
Video footage showed more than 100 fans attending the event.
One participant told the Right Side Broadcasting Network that the event was a rally for Trump. “Trump 2024 baby! Yes!” he said.
The event was protested by another group, which according to the network was linked to the far-left Antifa and Black Lives Matter.
Counter-protesters grabbed a huge banner carried by Trump supporters and a fight ensued, according to video footage. Captured by freelance reporter Ford Fischer.
NYPD officers arrested two of the counter-protesters, one of whom claimed a Trump supporter used a racial slur.
The New York Police Department said later that day that officers were “trying to avoid a confrontation between anti-police protesters and pro-Trump protesters.”
Four arrests were made for various crimes, including assaults on police officers and possession of weapons. Violent actions by those who claim to be “peaceful protesters” will not be tolerated. pic.twitter.com/kke0GzpwAw
– NYPD NEWS (@NYPDnews) March 5, 2021
As they did so, “several officers faced violent actions resulting in one officer being treated at a hospital on suspicion of bleach being thrown in his eyes,” the department added.
Four arrests were made for various crimes, including assaults on police officers and possession of weapons.
“Violent actions by those who claim to be ‘peaceful protesters’ will not be tolerated,” police said in a statement.
Officials declined to respond Saturday when The Epoch Times asked if any of those arrested were confirmed to be with a certain group.
After the arrests, the counter-protesters continued to confront supporters, including one who told a woman to “fight me.”
“Frankly, sometimes I cover two-sided events to argue, etc. leads to finding common ground. Aside from a few shared moments that collectively criticized Governor Cuomo, there were many fighting words today and not much common ground, ”Fischer said in a tweet.
Trump has said he is considering another run for the presidency after a victory in 2016 and a defeat last year.
“Democrats should suffer devastating losses in the midterm elections and lose the White House decisively four years from now … I can decide to beat them a third time,” Trump told a crowd at the Conservative Political Action Conference in Orlando, Florida, on February 28, referring to his claim that he actually won the 2020 election.
In an interview that day, he said he can’t imagine anyone else winning if he runs again.
Jack Phillips contributed to this report.
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