Stabbing Breaks Out In Anti-Vaxx Protest As Reporter Forced To Flee After Being Harassed, Attacked

A man was reportedly stabbed and a reporter attacked at a protest against COVID-19 vaccines in downtown Los Angeles after a fight broke out between anti-vaxxers and counter-protesters on Saturday, Aug. 14.

The massive brawl between anti-vaccination demonstrators and counter-protesters reportedly happened in front of the Los Angeles City Hall on Saturday, Aug. 14. A man was reportedly stabbed and a KPCC radio reporter named Frank Stolze was attacked as a result of the brawl, Al Jazeera reported.

The man who suffered the stabbing was rushed to a nearby hospital in critical condition. He was later released from the health facility on Sunday, Aug. 15.

Hundreds of people gathered outside City Hall at approximately 2 p.m. Saturday for the rally. Some of the protestors were reportedly holding American flags, Trump memorabilia, and signs calling for “medical freedom.”

A group of counter-protesters also gathered nearby and soon, a brawl broke out between the two groups. It was not immediately clear what prompted the violent melee, ABC News reported.

The protesters reportedly called the rally a "Choose Freedom March" and said that they were protesting against the "medical tyranny" of mandatory vaccinations and vaccine passports. The members of the anti-vaccine rally screamed death threats while counter-protesters sprayed mace.

Stolze who was seen walking out of the park near City Hall was reportedly screamed at by anti-mask protesters and kicked by one of their men.

“Something happened to me today that’s never happened in 30 years of reporting. In LA, I was shoved, kicked and my eyeglasses were ripped off of my face by a group of guys at a protest – outside City Hall during an anti-vax Recall⁩ Pro-Trump rally,” Stolze wrote on his Twitter account.

The protestors reportedly held the rally to protest against a City Council vote that took place on Wednesday, Aug. 11. The vote favors the authorities to draft a decree demanding people to be at least partially vaccinated against COVID-19 in order to access indoor public spaces, TMZ reported.

“Not wearing a mask and being anti-vax isn’t patriotism. It’s stupidity,” Nury Martinez, Los Angeles City Council President said about Saturday’s violence.

No arrests have reportedly been made in connection with the stabbing.