On the afternoon of Aug. 22, a crowd of hundreds of activists, including proponents of the conspiracy theory known as QAnon, gathered in Beverly Gardens Park for a Freedom Rally in front of the Beverly Hills sign. Among the group were individuals associated with far-right organizations, including the Proud Boys, the Patriot Movement, and the Three Percenters. About 50 Black Lives Matter (BLM) activists staged a counter-protest in a separate area of the park cordoned-off by the Beverly Hills Police Department.
The event had a heavy law enforcement presence, with officers from the Beverly Hills Police Department (BHPD), Culver City Police Department, Santa Monica Police Department, and Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. Despite the efforts to keep the two groups separate, by the late afternoon, fights broke out. The Courier observed several assaults take place. In one case, several BLM activists were pepper-sprayed in the face. As one BLM protester lay on the ground, a man stood over him and deployed a stream of pepper spray inches from his face.
