California: ‘Brown Beret’ activist faces assault, riot charges from Capitol melee with neo-Nazis

[TomSea]

‘Brown Beret’ activist faces assault, riot charges from Capitol melee with neo-Nazis

By Darrell Smith and Anita Chabria

dvsmith@sacbee.com

Activist Michael Williams was arraigned Friday on charges related to last year’s bloody state Capitol clash between neo-Nazi sympathizers and counter-demonstrators, and he remains in custody on $500,000 bail.

Button-wearing supporters, local activists and legal monitors attended the Friday afternoon hearing for Williams, 56, in front of Sacramento Superior Court Judge Jaime Roman. He was charged with assault with a deadly weapon and participating in a riot.

Sacramento County District Attorney’s officials this week announced four arrests more than a year after the donnybrook between neo-Nazis and anti-fascist, or Antifa, demonstrators that left 10 people hurt, including at least five who were stabbed. The violence led to widespread criticism of how California Highway Patrol officers responded to the scene.

Read more here: http://www.sacbee.com/news/local/crime/article163026113.html#storylink=cpy