This browser does not support the Video element.
Women’s March Austin, right-wing groups clash
Organizers of both groups tell FOX 7 Austin they did not attempt to contact each other once realizing there was a scheduling conflict.
AUSTIN, Texas - On Saturday, the Women’s March Austin and the Proud Boys, Trump Supporters with Texans for America, Just Another Channel, and InfoWars held dueling demonstrations in Wooldridge Square Park.
The Anti-Defamation League says the Proud Boys are misogynistic, transphobic, anti-immigration, and Islamophobic.
FOX 7 Austin heard members of the group yell a number of misogynistic and transphobic insults at demonstrators with the Women’s March. The ADL also claims that some Proud Boys members are anti-Semitic and white supremacists.
SIGN UP FOR FOX 7 AUSTIN EMAIL ALERTS
DOWNLOAD THE FOX 7 AUSTIN NEWS APP
Proud Boy Christopher Ritchie says he is neither of those things. He self-identifies as a “proud Western Chauvinist.” “We believe the west is the best,” he explained.
“We’ve suffered a lot over the last four years, I’m ready to do something.” laughed 86-year-old Women’s March participant Anne Sigler.
RELATED: More than 14M Americans have voted early in 2020 presidential election, data shows
RELATED: Biden, Trump go at it — from a distance — in competing town halls
Texans United for America organizer Jen Loh claims the right-wing groups had a Trump rally planned in the park for months. Women's March Organizers say they planned the annual demonstration with city officials. What exactly happened remains unclear.
Organizers of both groups tell FOX 7 Austin they did not attempt to contact each other once realizing there was a scheduling conflict. They were not required to obtain permits.
RELATED: #pollperks campaign launched to help local businesses and get out the vote
The groups spent the afternoon arguing.
“I think it’s great. I think people have to get out and say what they wanna say even though I disagree with the ones over there… pretty bad.” Sigler laughed, pointing to the Proud Boys. “But, that’s okay. That’s alright. We’ve got to be able to keep on disagreeing with each other.”
CLICK HERE FOR MORE AUSTIN NEWS