Wi Spa Protest 2 - LAPD Clash with Antifa as Opposing Groups Face Off in Los Angeles

An unlawful assembly was declared in Los Angeles on Saturday, as two opposing groups descended on the Wi Spa in Koreatown. The area has experienced multiple protests in response to an incident where a woman reported being exposed to male genitalia on the female side of the spa. The spa countered that the person in question is transgender, and the entire episode has sparked heated protests on both sides - some supporting the woman and her claim, others siding with the spa.

Opposing groups were out for the second time in three weeks on Saturday - on one side conservatives, religious & right-wingers, on the other Antifa and other left-wingers, quickly separated by police as the right-wing group marched to the spa.

Police deployed batons and less-lethal munitions against the Antifa counter-protest side, after multiple smoke bombs and water bottle projectiles were thrown at the opposing group across the street. They soon began to push both groups blocks away from each other, leading the right-wing group to some brief face-offs before dispersing. The Antifa counter-protest side stayed, and shortly after an unlawful assembly emergency alert was issued. The group was pushed back and eventually kettled by Los Angeles Police, who made 38 arrests, confiscating some stun-guns and pepper-spray in the process.

Overall both groups were kept from major direct confrontations, with police taking aggressive intervention on the crowds as they pushed them back and away from each other. Lines of officers moved throughout the morning and early afternoon, cutting off alleyways and intersections and refusing to let people pass between them.