A protest at the California capitol in Sacramento between a white nationalist group and opponents turned violent on Sunday, leaving several people injured with serious stab wounds.
Ten people were taken to hospitals with stabbing wounds or lacerations —some of them suffering serious trauma, according to the Sacramento Fire Department. They were expected to survive, the Associated Press reported.
"They were met by a large number of counter protesters, and we had quite a large fight and a number of smaller fights and melees that broke out from that," Chris Harvey of the Sacramento Fire Department told CNN.
Patients included nine men and one woman, ranging in age from 19 to 58.
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Matthew Heimbach, chairman and founder of Traditionalist Worker Party, told BuzzFeed News the group planned to hold a peaceful event but encountered violence as soon as they arrived near the capitol.
“As soon as our men left the parking garage, 200 anti-fascists armed with bricks and bats attacked our men. Our men stood our ground, and our comrades refused to give an inch," Heimbach said.
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Heimbach — who is “considered by many to be the face of a new generation of white nationalists,” according to the Southern Poverty Law Center — said the “anti-fascists committed attempted murder” against members of the group.
“We knew this was coming. They were threatening to kill us for weeks. This is the beginning of a new dawn for white nationalism in America. We are no longer going to hide in conferences. We are going to take to the streets and take them back,” Heimbach added.
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Video from ABC 10 shows police in tactical gear pulling people apart. Police told reporters early Sunday afternoon that no arrests had been made, and officers were focused on de-escalating the situation.
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Photos from the scene showed blood on the capitol grounds.
One window was broken, Fox 40 reported.
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Though the white nationalist rally didn't take place as planned, protesters and counter-protesters remained at the capitol on Sunday afternoon.
By 2:30 p.m., protesters left the capitol grounds, authorities said.
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