Violent protests erupt at Berkeley as Trump supporters and opponents hold competing rallies

Hundreds of self-described anti-fascist protesters and supporters of US President Donald Trump clashed in Berkeley, California, in sporadic brawls.
Protests in cities around the rest of the country, including a number of “tax marches” in which demonstrators called for Trump to release his tax returns, proceeded more peacefully.

In Berkeley, police told media they had arrested 13 people by mid-afternoon, as opposing rallies spilled out of a park and into the streets.

With several hundred people on each side, the crowds mostly taunted each other with bullhorns, chants and shouts. Occasionally, anti-Trump protesters threw fireworks. Small bands on both sides chased each other or brawled, sometimes with wooden planks, homemade shields, poles and pepper spray.

Watch: clashes at pro and anti-Trump rallies

One standoff at a downtown intersection ended only when a smoke grenade detonated. In confusion, anti-Trump protesters fled as supporters of the president charged after them, attacking stragglers. In one altercation, demonstrators threw a pot of beans at each other.

In another altercation, a protester who stole a Trump flag was chased down in front of a store and punched, until allies ran to his side and started to beat the Trump supporter involved. As with the other fights, it was eventually separated. At least a dozen people were seen bloodied or suffering the effects of pepper spray.