A white nationalist/neo-Nazi group called the “Traditionalist Workers Party” got a permit to stage a rally in Sacramento. A much larger group of counter-protesters, many dressed in black and covering their faces, showed up hours early to “protest” the march. As the white nationalists arrived things quickly turned violent. From the LA Times:

At least five people were stabbed, some critically, during clash between a neo-Nazi rally and counter protesters at the state capitol in Sacramento Sunday, fire officials said.

Chris Harvey, public information officer for the Sacramento Fire Department, said five patients were transported to local hospitals with critical stab wounds. Several other people suffered cuts, scrapes and bruises but were not taken to the hospital, Harvey said.

“It was quite a bit of a melee,” Harvey said, mentioning that several different groups had descended on the Capitol, including counter protesters.

ABC reporter Frances Wang was at the scene shooting photos, video and live tweeting the chaos as it happened:

"Counter protestors" in place already for a protest at noon put on by alleged "Nazis" coming to the Capitol. @ABC10 pic.twitter.com/yyL11ka1GJ

— Frances Wang (#FrannyInMiami) (@FrancesWangTV) June 26, 2016

N&10 blocked off. Police expect more "counter protestors" than protestors from Traditionalist Working Party. @ABC10 pic.twitter.com/rWpEaRqqhV

— Frances Wang (#FrannyInMiami) (@FrancesWangTV) June 26, 2016

Some description of the Party on their website. Counter protestors calling them "racists," "Nazis," "Fascist" @ABC10 pic.twitter.com/icGs4M5yyz

— Frances Wang (#FrannyInMiami) (@FrancesWangTV) June 26, 2016

A lot of counter protestors in all black, covering their faces. For some reason, they don't like media. @ABC10 pic.twitter.com/WqnXkjzkpa

— Frances Wang (#FrannyInMiami) (@FrancesWangTV) June 26, 2016

The Sacramento Bee published this video of the counter-protesters harassing a news crew who were filming them:

The Party's FB page referring to today's rally. The group got a permit at the Capitol. @ABC10 pic.twitter.com/w3K7BMc0W3

— Frances Wang (#FrannyInMiami) (@FrancesWangTV) June 26, 2016

This tweet comes from the guy who runs the Traditionalist Worker Party. Here are the people that were supposed to be marching/protesting today. Note that most of them also have their faces covered and many carry shields:

https://twitter.com/MatthewHeimbach/status/747126903904043008

Fairly soon it became clear the counter-protesters were also looking for a fight. Police had to step in:

VIDEO: Police stepping in to stop a man from being attacked. @ABC10 pic.twitter.com/Wzd9Q8zt1j

— Frances Wang (#FrannyInMiami) (@FrancesWangTV) June 26, 2016

But it soon turned into an all-out melee against anyone who looked like they were part of the white nationalist group:

Insane video. Crowd sees any signs of "Nazis" and they run&attack. A lot of people bleeding/getting maced. @ABC10 pic.twitter.com/PoFhILfZ95

— Frances Wang (#FrannyInMiami) (@FrancesWangTV) June 26, 2016

https://twitter.com/Breaking911/status/747157046357803008

People are yelling for medical attention. @ABC10 pic.twitter.com/WFPYziSWv8

— Frances Wang (#FrannyInMiami) (@FrancesWangTV) June 26, 2016

Counter-protestors telling me multiple people have been stabbed. Working with Fire Dept. to confirm. @ABC10 pic.twitter.com/jmVpjPVtvH

— Frances Wang (#FrannyInMiami) (@FrancesWangTV) June 26, 2016

Horrifying…Blood spatters all over the ground. Police trying to control crowds. @ABC10 pic.twitter.com/aPtjTAO6pj

— Frances Wang (#FrannyInMiami) (@FrancesWangTV) June 26, 2016

Counter-protesters, even the injured ones, still don’t want their faces on camera:

Many of the counter-protestors don't want their faces shown. Here's one of them getting medical attention. @ABC10 pic.twitter.com/7MOJN3JiNe

— Frances Wang (#FrannyInMiami) (@FrancesWangTV) June 26, 2016

This is just chaos:

VIDEO to show what today has been like. See crowds running. Follow crowds. See people getting attacked. @ABC10 pic.twitter.com/nhUlm6eGW9

— Frances Wang (#FrannyInMiami) (@FrancesWangTV) June 26, 2016

Finally, less than an hour after it was scheduled to begin, the original protest is canceled by police:

#BREAKING The "original protest" organized by the Traditionalist Working Party has been cancelled. @ABC10

— Frances Wang (#FrannyInMiami) (@FrancesWangTV) June 26, 2016

It seems police did not demand all of the white nationalists leave however and stuck around to insure no one else got hurt:

A clip of a media update from Sac Police. @ABC10 pic.twitter.com/zZuLr6aliv

— Frances Wang (#FrannyInMiami) (@FrancesWangTV) June 26, 2016

But it seems the masked counter-protesters kept going after anyone they thought might be with the white nationalist group, including someone shooting video who claimed he had nothing to do with them:

A man trying to document the event got attacked. He says he doesn't identity w/ any white supremacist group. @ABC10 pic.twitter.com/TQFnYugqHa

— Frances Wang (#FrannyInMiami) (@FrancesWangTV) June 26, 2016

Believes he may have gotten attacked for live streaming the protests/counter-protests. @ABC10 pic.twitter.com/gHtOtUw4Hd

— Frances Wang (#FrannyInMiami) (@FrancesWangTV) June 26, 2016

Finally, things calmed down:

Police are leaving. I see tourists taking photos. crowds still here but mostly calm now. @ABC10 pic.twitter.com/UNGhg6EvHw

— Frances Wang (#FrannyInMiami) (@FrancesWangTV) June 26, 2016